NCJ Number
148613
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1993) Pages: 529-540
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Although the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conducts extensive education, teaching, and research, it has not been effective in educating the public, politicians, and many criminal justice officials about crime and justice and has little influence on criminal justice policy.
Abstract
Myths and counterproductive policies abound. Nevertheless, most ACJS members seem content to debate among themselves at meetings and publish research findings in journals that are rarely read by anyone outside academic institutions. As a result, the criminal justice policy agenda has been shaped by politicians, criminal justice officials, and other interest groups that act on the basis of narrow personal or bureaucratic interests and reflect an ahistorical, atheoretical, provincial, and crisis-management approach to problems. Three policies that are clearly counterproductive and even disastrous are the war on drugs, the prison construction movement, and capital punishment. Academic criminal justice has much to offer in policymaking, but academicians must recognize that some of the research is less valid or comprehensive than it could be and needs to include female, minority, and lower-class perspectives. ACJS members must consider their future approaches and consider new approaches to achieving greater influence in criminal justice policymaking. 27 references and 1 case citation