NCJ Number
79957
Date Published
1981
Length
287 pages
Annotation
This text is designed to provide college and university students with an overview of the organization and operations of the three major criminal justice branches: law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities.
Abstract
An overview of the need for criminal justice agencies includes discussions of the historical origins of separate agencies, the sociological explanations for criminal behavior, and the extent of the crime problem. The organization, operations, and general procedures of the components of the criminal justice system at the local, State, and Federal levels of government are described. The relationships among the agencies are examined. The professional positions within each of the agencies are described, including police officers, police legal advisors, prosecuting and defense attorneys, judges, correctional officers, parole officers, and probation officers. The role of women in law enforcement agencies and the development of unionism and collective bargaining in these agencies are also examined. A discussion of ethical considerations for professionals in each type of agency encompasses the decision to arrest, the use of force, and other factors. The final chapter outlines the latest developments in criminal justice, with emphasis on their impact on the future of the criminal justice system. These reforms include reorganization of police services to include family crisis intervention, special police tactical squads, and police-community relations; changes in the courts in the areas of computer applications, sentencing, consumer protection, and juvenile justice; and a changing emphasis in corrections that gives special attention to youth service bureaus. Figures, tables, discussion questions for each chapter, an index, and a list of 355 references are provided. (Author summary modified)