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UNFINISHED BUSINESS - TWENTY YEARS LATER - A REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS BY ITS FIFTY-ONE STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, SEPTEMBER 1977

NCJ Number
43357
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1977
Length
226 pages
Annotation
STATE-BY-STATE REPORTS OF THE 51 ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF NATIONAL PROGRESS, BOTH ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES, AND PRESENT CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE.
Abstract
IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, THESE STATE REPORTS DOCUMENT THE RISING IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. STATE REPORTS FOCUS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES RANGING FROM EQUAL CREDIT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. A SECOND MAJOR AREA OF RESEARCH HAS BEEN CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY IN PRISONS AND IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MINORITY STAFFING OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS REFLECT AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR ETHNIC AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY BETWEEN PRISONERS AND THEIR KEEPERS. AT THE SAME TIME, SHIFTING COMPOSITION OF THE CITIES REQUIRES LOCAL POLICE FORCES TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE EVER-CHANGING CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. INCREASED RECRUITMENT OF INDIGENOUS POLICE OFFICERS AND LOCALLY INITIATED TRAINING ARE RECOMMENDED. IN ALL, THESE REPORTS IDENTIFY 15 ISSUES: EDUCATION; EMPLOYMENT; WOMEN'S ISSUES; SUCH SPECIAL GROUPS AS BLACKS, HISPANICS, ASIAN, AND PACIFIC AMERICANS; HOUSING; CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT; INDIGENOUS GROUPS SUCH AS AMERICAN INDIANS AND NATIVE ALASKANS; PRISONS; POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS; ECONOMIC ISSUES; VOTING AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION; INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS; MIGRANTS; HEALTH AND SAFETY; AND UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS.