RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE (FROM INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS - ANNUAL, 13TH HOUSTON (TX), - 1978 - SEE NCJ-66183)

• NCJ Number: 66190
• Author(s): D N BROSNAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-66190 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE (SEE NCJ-66183) FROM NCJRS.

Annotation

THE IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN INTEGRITY AND INVOLVEMENT IN COMBATING CRIME IS DISCUSSED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO TEXAS CORRECTIONS.

Abstract

IF SOCIAL CONTROL IS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN A COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS MUST ACT WITH AN INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT TO LAWFUL BEHAVIOR THAT REINFORCES THE INTENT OF THE LAW. THE BUYING OF GOODS WHICH LOGIC DICTATES TO BE STOLEN IS AN EXAMPLE OF CITIZEN BEHAVIOR THAT CONTRIBUTES TO CRIME'S PROFITABILITY. DISCRIMINATION TOWARD RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO DEBILITATING SOCIOECONOMIC AND CRIMINOGENIC CONDITIONS FOR DISCRIMINATION'S VICTIMS IS ANOTHER FORM OF CITIZEN CONTRIBUTION TO CRIME. THE FAILURE TO IMPACT ISSUES OF INJUSTICE BY NEGLECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS ALSO A CITIZEN FAULT THAT AFFECTS ISSUES OF SOCIAL CONTROL. PREVALENT CITIZEN CRITICISM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES FOR FAILING TO GUARANTEE CITIZEN SAFETY IS FREQUENTLY SCAPEGOATING BY PASSIVE CITIZENS WHO DO LITTLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND THAT OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. RECENTLY, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED THE TEXAS ADULT PROBATION COMMISSION. ONE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE CITIZENS' INVOLVEMENT AND PRIDE IN PROBATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THIS IS A RECOGNITION THAT COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO PARTICULAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND THE OVERALL AIM OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS CRUCIAL TO IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE. (RCB)