NCJ Number
47170
Journal
Center Magazine Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1977) Pages: 15-42
Date Published
1977
Length
28 pages
Annotation
CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN THE RISING CRIME RATE AND FOCAL POINTS FOR REFORM IN LAWMAKING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS ARE DISCUSSED IN THESE CONFERENCE PAPERS.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING CAUSATIVE FACTORS IN THE RISING CRIME RATE ARE DISCUSSED: POPULATION SHIFT TOWARD THE YOUNGER CRIME-PRONE AGE GROUP AS A RESULT OF THE POST-WORLD WAR II BABY BOOM; A RISE IN UNEMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY AMONG MINORITIES, IN THE CRIME-PRONE AGE GROUP; THE SOCIAL TURBULENCE OF THE LAST 15 YEARS; THE EMERGENCE OF AN AFFLUENT CONSUMER SOCIETY; AND AN OVERBURDENED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WHILE EFFORTS AT BASIC SOCIOECONOMIC REFORM ARE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH BASIC CRIME CAUSES, CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT IN IMPACTING THE CRIME SITUATION. REHABILITATION, THE EMPHASIS OF CORRECTIONS IN RECENT DECADES, IS VIEWED AS LARGELY INEFFECTUAL IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM, AND THIS FINDING SHOULD LEAD TO A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE THEORY OF CORRECTIONS. IN THIS CONNECTION, ONE PAPER DISCUSSES MANDATORY AND UNIFORM SENTENCING VERSUS INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AND JUDICIAL DISCRETION. THE NECESSITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODERN, COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE TO CORRECT DEFICIENCIES IN THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER PAPER. THE NEED TO RELIEVE THE EXCESSIVE BURDEN BEING PLACED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COURTS BY DIVERTING LIMITED RESOURCES FROM VICTIMLESS CRIMES TO VIOLENT AND PREDATORY CRIMES IS CONSIDERED IN ANOTHER PRESENTATION. THE IMPORTANCE OF REVISING OUR SYSTEM OF LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSING TO REFLECT CHANGES FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY TO AN URBAN, POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY IS CONSIDERED ALSO. (RCB)