NCJ Number
97920
Journal
Social Defence Volume: 19 Issue: 73 Dated: (July 1983) Pages: 5-11
Date Published
1983
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A discussion of forms of crime in a variety of countries, United Nations studies and statements about various types of crime, and problems of criminal justice systems in developing countries concludes that an international effort is needed to determine the amount of crime a society can stand and to form an international-national criminal justice order.
Abstract
Crime is a more serious problem in developing countries than in developed countries. The most serious form of crime is that resulting from the criminal abuse of political power, although statistics on this problem are unreliable. Disappearances and executions of citizens, economic crimes related to development plans, international terrorism, and corruption related to international drug production and trafficking are all serious problems. Criminal violations of human rights, refugee questions, and numerous other problems have also been scrutinized by the United Nations. The penal systems of most countries are hampered by low clearance rates by the police, lack of employment for prisoners, overcrowding, long delays before trials, and lack of funding. The penal systems in most countries lag far behind the needs of postindustrial societies, despite many reforms. Since 1960, the United Nations has tried to promote penal planning that is linked closely to national development. Governments often adopt the United Nations recommendations, but seldom implement them. Obstacles to change are the view that most crime is common crime, the belief that improving living conditions will suppress crime, and the view that abuse of power should be handled differently from ordinary crimes. It must be recognized that fear of crime is a central feature of contemporary society and is one that will become more prominent if a new national-international criminal justice order does not emerge.