Five fundamental mistakes of criminal justice

The often confusing, sometimes bizarre, nature of crime and justice in contemporary society is shown to result from five fundamental mistakes in criminal justice: (1) the failure to consider an explanation of crime based on ethical decision making, given the inadequacies of positivistic, classical, and structural approaches; (2) the failure to devote more attention to generally poor police training and low clearance rates; (3) the failure to realize that winning cases and moving caseloads have overshadowed the original purposes of truth and justice in the adjudication process; (4) the failure to consider an alternative approach to corrections based on punishment and rehabilitation rather than punishment or rehabilitation; and (5) the failure to pay greater attention to the early lives of young people and their families, from whom much subsequent criminal behavior emerges. Evidence attesting to these failures is presented, and recommendations for overcoming them are indicated.

This address was delivered as part of a slide presentation at the meetings of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences held in Las Vegas in March 1996. The author is professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University, Harrison House, 816 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284-2017.

This address was delivered as part of a slide presentation at the meetings of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences held in Las Vegas in March 1996. The author is professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University, Harrison House, 816 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284-2017.

Notes

This address was delivered as part of a slide presentation at the meetings of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences held in Las Vegas in March 1996. The author is professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University, Harrison House, 816 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284-2017.