NCJ Number
63328
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SETS FORTH PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES IN CRIME CONTROL STRATEGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BASED ON THE CONCEPTS OF PRIORITY SETTING, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RISK TAKING.
Abstract
SINCE TODAY'S CRIME CONTROL SYSTEM OFFERS UNCERTAIN APPREHENSION, OUTMODED PROSECUTION, AND INEFFECTUAL PUNISHMENT OR REHABILITATION, THIS REPORT RECOMMENDS A NATIONAL EFFORT TO DEVELOP REWARDS FOR THOSE ADULTS WHO DO NOT COMMIT CRIME FOR A SPECIFIED LENGTH OF TIME. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS AN OUTRIGHT GRANT TO JUVENILES REACHING ADULTHOOD WITHOUT DELINQUENCY. CRIME MUST BE LOOKED AT IN ITS TOTALITY AND A NATIONAL PANEL SHOULD CONSIDER ALL TYPES OF CRIME AND ASSESS THE DEGREE OF FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL HARM THREATENED BY EACH SO THAT LONG-TERM PRIORITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT CAN BE SET. CERTAIN TYPES OF CRIME CAN BE REDUCED BY FORCING CRIMINALS INTO LESS HARMFUL TYPES OF CRIME. IN ORDER TO DO THIS, THE LEVEL OF DISCRETION WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE REDUCED. SYSTEMWIDE PROGRAMS AND PRIORITIES MUST BE SET AND RIGIDLY ENFORCED TO CHANGE THE FACE OF CRIME. A NEW EFFECTIVE CRIME CONTROL SYSTEM COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IF (1) THE LAW REQUIRED THAT THE COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM BE EXAMINED AND CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO PRIORITIES ANNUALLY; (2) A SYSTEM AUDITOR WAS HIRED TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE; AND (3) A NATIONAL EFFORT WAS MADE TO DEVELOP ANALYTICAL TOOLS FOR PLANNING INSTITUTIONAL INTAKE. PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES SHOULD BE FREE FOR ALL DEFENDANTS AND A SPECIFIC STATUTORY REMEDY SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE CASES WHERE A PERSON IS WRONGLY INCARCERATED. IN SUMMARY, NEW THEORIES AND PRACTICES ARE NEEDED IF PROGRESS IS TO BE MADE IN THE AREA OF CRIME CONTROL. (MJW)