Reasons for the Inefficient U.S. Justice System and Suggested Remedies (From Privatizing the United States Justice System: Police, Adjudication, and Corrections Services From the Private Sector, P 182-188, 1992, Gary W Bowman, Simon Hakim, et al., eds. - See NCJ-137785)

• NCJ Number: 137794
• Author(s): R Neely
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: McFarland & Company, Inc.
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The use of citizen volunteers is the only feasible alternative for controlling crime, because competing political goals make an increase in public funding for law enforcement, courts, and correctional services unlikely.

Abstract

All of us constantly fear violent crime, but the goal of protecting ourselves from crime must compete with other political goals, such as paying low taxes, minimizing government intrusion into our personal lives, and avoiding close proximity to prisons and other concentrations of the underclass. As a result, we have inefficient and incompetent government law enforcement. In addition, crime prevention involves more than simply hiring more police personnel. How police spend their time is just as important as the numbers of police personnel. Moreover, additional police are useless without more prosecuting attorneys, judges, and correctional and treatment services. Furthermore, government regulation is already excessive and makes it almost impossible to conduct normal business without violating some minor criminal law. These and other factors mean that neighborhoods that want to protect themselves effectively should hire private guards or patrol themselves through community crime patrols. Volunteer patrols will be supported as long as they behave like volunteer firefighters. Reference notes