NCJ Number
12585
Date Published
1974
Length
352 pages
Annotation
FUNCTIONS AND INTERACTIONS OF POLICE, COURTS, CORRECTIONS, AND RELEVANT SOCIAL FACTORS, USING THE CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS ANALYSIS.
Abstract
WE CANNOT FULLY UNDERSTAND ANY ONE SEGMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER SEGMENTS. POLICE PROCEDURES CLEARLY AFFECT THE COURTS, PROSECUTION, AND CORRECTIONS, WHILE COURTS, IN TURN, AFFECT POLICE, AND SO ON. THESE CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVE, NOT ONLY THE INSTITUTIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM, BUT SUCH FACTORS AS SOCIAL MORES, PUBLIC OPINION, CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS GENERALLY. THIS BOOK EMPHASIZES THE CONCEPTS OF SYSTEMS AND SYSTEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS IN DISCUSSING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL LAW, POLICE, COURTS, TRIALS, PROSECUTION, DEFENSE, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE AND COURTS ARE INCREASINGLY FACED WITH BEHAVIOR STEMMING FROM GROWING DEMANDS FOR SOCIAL REFORM RATHER THAN FROM THE VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL STATUTES. ONE APPARENT REACTION OF THE COURTS, PARTICULARLY THE SUPREME COURT, HAS BEEN TO PASS DOWN DECISIONS WHICH HAVE HAD GREAT IMPACT ON POLICE PROCEDURES IN GENERAL AND ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE POLICE TO SOCIAL CHANGE IN PARTICULAR. THE OVERLAPPING RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROSECUTION AND POLICE, MEANWHILE, ARE PRESENTED HERE IN A VERY ENLIGHTENING WAY BY THE VERBATIM RESPONSES OF AN ANONYMOUS PROSECUTOR TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT KIND OF PERFORMANCE A DISTRICT ATTORNEY WOULD LIKE FROM THE POLICE. AND IN THE CASE OF DEFENSE SERVICES, THE FREE AND DEMOCRATIC NATURE OF OUR SOCIETY IS SEEN TO REDUCE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE COURTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN PROVIDING A FAIR AND JUST TRIAL. EACH CHAPTER IN THE BOOK IS FOLLOWED BY A SUMMARY, QUESTIONS, AND ANNOTATED REFERENCES. (SNI ABSTRACT)