REEXAMINING THE PRESIDENT'S CRIME COMMISSION - THE CHALLENGE OF CRIME IN FREE SOCIETY AFTER TEN YEARS

• NCJ Number: 51955
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 1-12
• Author(s): S WALKER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-CD-99-0002; 73-CD-99-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ISSUED ITS REPORT IN 1967 ARE REVIEWED.

Abstract

THE CHALLENGE OF CRIME IN A FREE SOCIETY WAS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SINCE 1931. ALTHOUGH STILL WIDELY CONSULTED, THE REPORT IS OUT OF DATE, AND NO LONGER REFLECTS THE DOMINANAT ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PROMINENCE OF THE CRIME PROBLEM SIGNIFIES ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE DECADE SINCE THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED. THE REPORT REFLECTED ONLY THE FIRST PHASE OF WHAT HAS BECOME A MAJOR, LONG TERM INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. THE RISE IN CRIME HAS PRODUCED AN INTENSIFIED PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT THE CRIME PROBLEM, AND CRIME HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST URGENT DOMESTIC POLITICAL ISSUES. POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS WAS THE CRITICAL ISSUE IN AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WHEN THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED. SEVERAL MAJOR CHANGES IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION HAVE OCCURRED SINCE 1967, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BEING THE EMERGENCE OF POLICE UNIONISM AND THE INCREASE IN POLICE RESEARCH AND PLANNING. THE WANING OF THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS CRISIS SHIFTED PUBLIC ATTENTION TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY THE COURTS AND THE PRISONS. THIS SHIFT ILLUSTRATES THE CRISIS SYNDROME IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLITICS. EACH NEW CRISIS PRODUCES DEMANDS FOR CHANGE AND AN OUTPOURNG OF STUDIES AND COMMENTARY. OFTEN ADMINISTRATORS RESPOND BY GRASPING AT THE MOST CONVENIENT AND VISIBLE REFORM. WITH THE ADVENT OF A NEW CRISIS, YESTERDAY'S EMERGENCY IS FORGOTTEN. PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE IN THE DECADE SINCE THE COMMISSION REPORT IS THE DECLINE IN FAITH IN THE IDEA OF REHABILITATION. THE REPORT REFLECTED THE BELIEF THAT ALTERNATIVE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS COULD ATTACK THE CAUSES OF CRIME. THE DEBATE OVER DETERRENCE AND THE GROWING INTEREST IN DETERMINATE SENTENCING WERE UNFORESEEN. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, ONE FOR WHICH THE COMMISSION IS PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE, IS THE INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A SYSTEM. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LEAA AND THE EVOLUTION OF AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE PART OF A STRATEGY FOR APPROACHING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS A UNIFIED SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)