Perspectives on the Fight Against Crime in the 1980's - Panel Discussion (From Bestandaufnahme und Perspektiven der Verbechensbekaempfung, P 209-234, 1982 - See NCJ-89221)

• NCJ Number: 89233
• Author(s): H Boge; J Schmude; H-D Schwind; A Vorbeck
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: Bundeskriminalamt
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: Discussion held at Workshop of the Bundeskriminalamt in Wiesbaden (W. Germany), 9-12 November, 1981

Annotation

Four panelists discuss crime trends and the major problems faced by law enforcement in West Germany today.

Abstract

They note the rising crime rates and the increasingly violent characteristics of crime as well as the discrepancy between fear of crime and actual crime incidence. Recently emerging problems are organized crime and the disproportionate criminal involvement of foreigners. To confront these issues, clear-cut policies must be formulated and law enforcement priorities identified. Both Federal and State allocations for law enforcement must be sufficient to enable development of better police data systems and initial and continuing education programs for officer training. Research in prevention approaches and criminalistics technology should continue. Coordination of Federal and State law enforcement efforts is needed, as is legislation to enable more effective police investigative and intelligence work. Dissenting opinions in the discussion concern decriminalization of petty mass crimes, the need for social prevention measures rather than harsher criminal laws, and the relationship of politics to law enforcement issues.