NCJ Number
56110
Date Published
1978
Length
64 pages
Annotation
FIFTY INNOVATIVE IDEAS ON CORRECTIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE SUMMARIZED IN THIS REPORT. THEY ARE FROM PAPERS PRESENTED AT REGIONAL CONFERENCES SPONSORED BY SEVEN NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONCERED ABOUT CRIME.
Abstract
FIVE CONFERENCES WERE HELD IN AUSTIN, HOUSTON, AND ARLINGTON, TEX., IN BATON ROUGE, LA., AND IN ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX, TO DISCUSS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, CRIME AND THE FEAR OF CRIME, THE JUSTIFICATION FOR PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS AND THE APPROPRIATENESS OF REHABILITATION, VICTIM ASSISTANCE, ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND OTHER RELATED TOPICS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, DISPEL MYTHS, AND PRODUCE CREATIVE CONCEPTS FOR DEALING WITH THESE MATTERS. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE 50 IDEAS INCLUDE INFORMATION SOURCES AND ACTIVITIES TO UNDERTAKE. IDEAS DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) MURDER VICTIMS ARE USUALLY KNOWN TO THEIR ASSAILANTS, OFTEN STRIKE THE FIRST BLOW OR MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, AND ARE MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR ASSAILANTS TO HAVE PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORDS; (2) WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IS COMMITTED BY THIEVES, NOT LEGITIMATE BUSINESS PERSONS WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE GRAY AREA, AND ITS VICTIMS ARE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES; (3) VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AIMED AT WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEM RAPED OR BEATEN PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED MODELS FOR SPECIALIZED VICTIM ASSISTANCE, ARE GREATLY EFFECTIVE IN ADMINISTERING NEEDED AID TO FEMALE VICTIMS, AND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN ALL CITIES; (4) PLEA BARGAINING IS A CRUTCH FOR PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, ALLOWS TO THE OFFENDER TO ESCAPE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIMES, AND SHOULD BE ELIMINATED; AND (5) THE SIMPLE ACT OF REPORTING ONE CRIME OFTEN HELPS PREVENT OTHER CRIMES FROM HAPPENING; THUS ALL CITIZENS SHOULD CONSIDER IT THEIR DUTY TO REPORT CRIMES. (DAG)