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OUR CITIES BURN - WHILE WE PLAY COPS AND ROBBERS

NCJ Number
30158
Author(s)
B BOTEIN
Date Published
1972
Length
192 pages
Annotation
AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT SOCIETY AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRYING TO CHECK THE FACTORS THE GENERATE CRIMINAL ACTS, RATHER THAN DEPEND ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
JUDGE BOTEIN FEELS THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC STILL REGARDS THE CRIME PROBLEM AS A GAME OF COPS AND ROBBERS. THEY DEPEND MUCH TOO HEAVILY ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO CONTROL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR IS ALARMED AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED NO SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CRIME. HE IS ALSO UPSET THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO COMBAT THE KNOWN FACTORS WHICH BREED CRIME. THE JUDGE PRESENTS A SHORT-RANGE PROGRAM TO COPE MORE EFFICIENTLY WITH CRIME IN THE STREETS AND AT THE SAME TIME TO IMPROVE SUBSTANTIALLY THE DETERIORATING QUALITY OF JUSTICE. THE BOOK PRESENTS A SERIES OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS OVERVIEWING THE SITUATION AND TELLING THE READER WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE POLICE THE COURTS, AND THE CORRECTIONS TECHNIQUES. IT INCLUDES A SPECIAL SECTION ON YOUTH CRIMES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)