NCJ Number
155479
Journal
International Criminal Justice Review Volume: 4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 37-51
Date Published
1994
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that the latest set of initiatives in British criminal justice, introduced by the Conservative Party in November 1993, represents the third new agenda for law and order since the Party took office in 1979.
Abstract
Like other areas of public policy, criminal justice policy has been driven by a number of motive factors: ideology, financial considerations, political goals, and the ambiguous force defined here as research-based knowledge. The often contradictory motive forces behind British criminal justice policy, which have generated contradictory combinations of primary and secondary law and order agendas, have created a series of watersheds in policy reform since 1979. The authors identify three major phases of criminal justice policy. The first phase predates the Conservative victory in 1979 and relates to the strategy of establishing law and order as a pillar of the Party's electoral appeal. A sea-change in criminal justice policy occurred in the 1980's, when the Party began to consider financial issues as well as policy directions supported by rational research findings. During this phase, crime prevention became a frontline strategy in crime reduction. The third phase illustrates the Party's attempt to regain the high ground on the issue of crime and reflects growing public and media concern over crime and disorder. 26 references