NCJ Number
6505
Journal
International Review of Criminal Policy Issue: 28 Dated: (1970) Pages: 3-10
Date Published
1970
Length
8 pages
Annotation
IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN RESEARCH APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL LAW AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CYBERNETICS.
Abstract
THE VARIOUS PURPOSES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE FACTS AND VALUES CHARACTERIZING THE CURRENT SITUATION, FORECASTING ITS DEVELOPMENT, AND IDENTIFYING THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME AT WHICH TO MODIFY THE NORM IN ORDER TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS. CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL LIES IN THE APPLICATION OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES, AS CYBERNETICS AND JURIMETRICS INTO SEVERAL AREAS OF CRIMINAL LAW AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE BEHAVIOURAL ANALYSIS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS, WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE PREDICTION OF JUDICIAL DECISIONS. THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE RELATING TO CRIMINAL LAW AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTRODUCES THE PROSPECT THAT THROUGH DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING, A CLEARER PICTURE OF RESEARCHABLE AREAS EMERGES GUIDING RESEARCHERS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SOCIAL DEFENCE TOWARDS A MORE EFFECTIVE MODUS OPERANDI, AND, ULTIMATELY, HELPING TO REDUCE THE ALL TOO PREVALENT LAG BETWEEN CHANGING SOCIO-ECONOMIC REALITY AND THE LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)