NCJ Number
7145
Date Published
1971
Length
703 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF POLICE AND THE COURTS AS THEY AFFECT THE OFFENDER.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF THREE BOOKS ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. PART I EXAMINES THE PURPOSES THAT PENAL SANCTIONS ARE INTENDED TO SERVE AND ATTEMPTS TO DELINEATE THE MORAL PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN A STRUGGLE FOR HUMANITARIAN CORRECTION. DISCRETION IN THE USE OF THE LAW AS A DETERRENT TO ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IS RECOMMENDED. PART II COVERS THE POLICE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. COMMON CRITICISMS OF THE POLICE ARE EXAMINED WITH AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ARE JUSTIFIED. MENTION IS MADE OF POLICE PERFORMANCE IN UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS RIOTS. IN PART III THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS ARE TREATED IN TURN THE LOWER COURTS, THE JUDGE, THE JURY, AND THE HIGHER COURTS. THE AUTHORS DISCUSS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THESE UNITS ARE SUPPORTING, OR FAILING TO SUPPORT, THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CHARGE. THIS READER WILL SERVE AS A VALUABLE TOOL IN THE RE-APPRAISAL OF THE ENFORCEMENT ARM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. (SNI ABSTRACT)