The Improvement And Reform Of Law Enforcement And Criminal Justice In The United States

Considers improvement of the criminal justice and law enforcement systems, with emphasis on correction and rehabilitation, along with a more effective court system and police force.

Policing in the United States is at a crossroads; decisions made at this juncture are crucial. With the emergence of evidence-based policing, police leaders can draw on research when making choices about how to police their communities. Who will design the path forward and what will be the new standards for policing? This book brings together two qualified groups to lead the discussion: academics and experienced police professionals. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University recruited faculty with expertise in policing and police research. This volume draws on that expertise to examine 13 specific areas in policing. Each chapter presents an issue and provides background before reviewing the available research on potential solutions and recommending specific reform measures. Response essays written by a current or former police leader follow each chapter and reflect on the recommendations in the chapter. The 13 chapters and response essays present new thinking about the police, their challenges, and the reforms police agencies should consider adopting. Policy makers, practitioners, educators, researchers, students and anyone interested in the future of policing will find valuable information about: the benefits of adopting evidence-based policing; leading strategic crime-control efforts; instituting procedural justice to enhance police legitimacy; reducing use of force; combatting racially biased policing; establishing civilian oversight; implementing a body-worn camera program; creating sentinel event reviews; developing police-university collaborations; facilitating organizational justice in police departments; improving officer health and wellness; handling protests; and increasing the effectiveness of police responses to sexual assault.

This report of the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals presents national criminal justice standards and goals for crime reduction and prevention at the State and local levels. The Commission proposes as a goal for America a 50 percent reduction in high-fear crimes by 1983. It further proposes that crime-reduction efforts focus on five crimes: homicide, reduced by at least 25 percent by 1983; forcible rape, reduced by at least 25 percent by 1983; aggravated assault, reduced by at least 25 percent by 1983; robbery, reduced by at least 50 percent by 1983; and burglary, reduced by at least 50 percent by 1983. The Commission proposes four areas for priority action in reducing the five target crimes: juvenile delinquency, delivery of social services, prompt determination of guilt or innocence, and citizen action. There are seven areas where the Commission proposes recommendations. In the area of criminal justice, it proposes broad reforms and improvements at the State and local levels. In focusing on community crime prevention, the Commission emphasizes communitywide crime prevention efforts at the State and local levels. The Commission also proposes that the delivery of police services be greatly improved at the municipal level and that the courts undergo a major restructuring and streamlining of procedures and practices in the processing of criminal cases at the State and local levels. Other proposals are in the broad areas of corrections and criminal code reform and revision. Regarding handguns in American society, the Commission proposes nationwide action at the State level to eliminate the dangers posed by widespread possession of handguns.