NCJ Number
129300
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Crime prevention legislation in Israel reflects the country's effort to create a proper balance between the public interest and the rights of the individual. That is, to develop a balance between the powers and means utilized by law enforcement agencies in light of safeguards to protect the individual against their abusive use.
Abstract
The Dangerous Drug Ordinance gives the police extensive search powers and introduces stiff penalties for drug trafficking offenses together with new methods of punishment. No international consensus has been reached on the definition of terrorism and the legitimacy of methods to fight it, thus, Israel continues its search for additional legislative tools to combat terrorism. Legislation has been enacted to address new types of white-collar crimes and to protect minors and other helpless persons from abuse and to protect workers from sexual harassment. This overview also identifies the provisions of legislation designed to establish alternatives to imprisonment and to protect the rights of the individual as well as rules governing the ethical practices of public agencies. The legislation reviewed suggests that efforts have been intensified to cope with crime, to deal effectively with offenders without impinging unnecessarily on their rights, and to be responsive to crime victims.