The Future of Criminal Justice
Description:... A series of essays examines future trends in various areas of criminal justice, including juvenile justice, sex offenses, proactive policing, probation, planning in 'sunbelt' States, and the insanity defense. The opening essay evaluates values affecting the American criminal justice system, considers the impact of future value issues, and recommends an approach for establishing justice as a perceived value in American society and particularly the criminal justice system, while the second essay draws lessons for the future of American justice from the experiences of ancient Corinth, Sparta and Athens. Issues requiring proactive criminal justice planning in the sunbelt States are identified and discussed in the third essay, followed by a paper that predicts decriminalization of sex laws relating to prostitution, homosexual acts, adultery, and fornication and a retention of laws protecting children, proscribing forced violent sex, and prohibiting sex acts that are a serious public nuisance. Another essay portrays future policing as being proactive with an orientation toward helping structure communities and guide citizen behavior so as to prevent crime. An argument for the professionalization of police advocates academic and training experience that stimulates the learner to self-examination and provides a sound practicum experience that links classroom and professional experience. A discussion of probation considers issues in organizational development and issues relating to roles in the organization, organizational procedures, relationships in the organization, and organizational structure. A scenario for the future of the juvenile justice system views it as becoming obsolete as Supreme Court due process mandates make it an unnecessary replica of adult criminal justice processing. The concluding essay presents the current status of the insanity defense and suggests an alternative approach: the doctrine of diminished or partial responsibility. References and footnotes accompany each essay.
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