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CRIME CONTROL BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

NCJ Number
14779
Author(s)
A C MILLSPAUGH
Date Published
1937
Length
320 pages
Annotation
PRESENTS THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, ORGANIZATION, AND FUNCTIONING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN CRIME CONTROL.
Abstract
SEVEN OF THE TWELVE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK DEAL WITH THOSE FEDERAL CRIME CONTROL AGENCIES THAT APPEAR MOST SIGNIFICANT WITH REFERENCE BOTH TO POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION. THEIR HISTORICAL BACKGROUND IS SKETCHED. THEIR PRESENT ACTIVITIES ARE SET FORTH. THEIR JURISDICTIONAL AND OPERATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ARE MADE CLEAR. VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES OF REORGANIZING THESE AGENCIES ARE EXPLORED, WITH THE AUTHOR ACCEPTING SOME AND REJECTING OTHERS. ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF EMPHASIS AND PHILOSOPHY AND THE NEED FOR KEEPING THOUGHT AND ACTION IN BALANCE. THE PROBLEM OF THE DIVISION OF POWERS AND OVERLAPPING OF FUNCTIONS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES IS DISCUSSED. OUT OF THIS ANALYSIS, EVIDENCE EMERGES OF A TREND TOWARD CENTRALIZED POLICING, ALTHOUGH THE TREND IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A DELIBERATE OR GENERALLY ACCEPTED POLICY. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THIS TREND. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)