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Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders

NCJ Number
134073
Date Published
1990
Length
54 pages
Annotation
The Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in 1990 in Havana, Cuba focused on such topics as environmental offenses, computer-related crime, drug control, terrorism, juvenile delinquency, victim-offender reconciliation, and international cooperation.
Abstract
Conference participants looked at international crime control efforts and crime prevention in Germany. Under the terms of various international agreements, most countries aim to respect the human rights of individuals who are detained or imprisoned. Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates that all persons deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and respect. Transnational cooperation in criminal cases must be dealt with at three levels; competing national criminal laws, international legal assistance, and supranational criminal justice. Internationally, acceptable minimum standards must be established to effect mutual assistance among countries in criminal matters. Criminal law related to environmental offenses is growing in importance, but needs to be expanded. Because the increased use of electronic data processing in business and industry has led to criminal abuse, the need for new forms of protection is evident. The criminal justice system has a role in drug control to curtail the cultivation, production, and sale of drugs and to reduce the demand for drugs. Terrorism is a serious threat to public security in many countries, and law enforcement agencies must employ appropriate constitutional means to control it. International dimensions of terrorism are reflected in hijackings, hostage takings, bombings, and shootings, and international cooperation in these areas is essential. Trends in juvenile delinquency in Germany are examined as well as victim-offender reconciliation and the use of computers in the administration of justice.