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AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - A GENERAL SURVEY OF OUR COURTS, OUR POLICE, AND OUR CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM

NCJ Number
48986
Author(s)
D PATTERSON; T FLANIGAN; M E PLOGHOFT; J NEWHOUSE
Date Published
1975
Length
76 pages
Annotation
COMPONENTS OF THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS CURRICULUM RESOURCE GUIDE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURT SYSTEM, PRISONS, CORRECTIONAL PROCEDURES, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.
Abstract
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN THE COURT SYSTEM ARE TRACED, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON OTHER CULTURES. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS EXAMINED. STEPS ESTABLISHED TO DEAL WITH CRIMINALS IN THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS ARE RELATED TO TYPES OF CRIMES, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, A BILL OF INFORMATION AND AN INDICTMENT, ARRAIGNMENT, THE SELECTION OF JURORS, ALTERNATIVES FOR JURY DECISIONS, THE DETERMINATION OF SENTENCES, AND THE PURPOSE OF PAROLE. LAW ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY POLICE IS COVERED. ELEMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE IN THE COURT SYSTEM INCLUDE MAGISTRATE AND DISTRICT COURTS WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM, SUPREME COURTS OF APPEALS, POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF APPEALS, DISTRICT COURTS IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, THE MIRANDA CASE, AND THE NEED TO SENTENCE INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENTLY. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE ROLE OF CORRECTIONAL PROCEDURES, CHANGES IN JUVENILE OFFENDER OPTIONS AND JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS, POLICE DISCRETION, POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS, PLEA BARGAINING, SENTENCE DISPARITY, PRISONS AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, MINORITIES AND WOMEN, DECRIMINALIZATION, INDIVIDUAL VERSUS SOCIETAL RIGHTS, AND PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE. QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION ORGANIZE EACH CHAPTER. APPENDIXES CONTAIN INFORMATION ON FEDERAL AUTHORITY OVER CRIMINAL PROCEDURES, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, A GLOSSARY OF TERMS, AND THE MAGNA CARTA. DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (DP)