Crime and the Justice System

Rationality and Irrationality in Public Policy


I.        Opening Considerations (James Q. Wilson interview)

    A.    Problems of Measurement and Definition

        1.    Trends in Reported Crime Rates

        2.    Victimization Data

    B.    Policy Alternatives

        1.    Two Models

            a.     Due Process Model

            b.     Crime Control Model (Classical Punishment Theory)

        2.    Deterrence as Rational Policy   

        3.    Apprehension

        4.    Punishment - Purposes

            a.     Retribution

            b.     General Deterrence

            c.     Specific Deterrence

            d.     Incapacitation

            e.    Rehabilitation

        5.   Punishment as Deterrence - Effectiveness Depends on:

            a.     Certainty

            b.     Swiftness

            c.     Severity

        6.    Capital Punishment

            a.    Statistics

            b.    Arguments:  pro: #1, #2,; con:  #1, #2

    C.    Types of Crimes

        1.    Based on Seriousness

            a.     Ordinance Violations

            b.     Misdemeanors

            c.     Felonies

        2.    White Collar Crime

        3.    Victimless Crimes

        4.    Crimes Against Property

        5.    Crimes Against Persons

        6.    Terrorism    

II.        Causes and Encouragements of Crime

    A.    Legal Definitions

    B.    Freedom

    C.    Social Heterogeneity

    D.    Limited Police Powers

    E.    Social Inequities

    F.    Access to Goods

    G.    High Percentage of Teenage Males

    H.    Rapid Social Change

    I.    Drug Culture

    J.    Media Attention

    K.    Even More Causes         

III.        Police and Law Enforcement

    A.    Police Structures (Local)

    B.    Police Functions

        1.    Enforcing Laws

        2.    Keeping Peace

        3.    Solving Crimes

        4.    Providing Services

    B.    Police Discretion

    C.    Federal Agencies

1.    Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
2.    Drug Enforcement Administration
3.    Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
4.    Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
5.    Immigration and Naturalization Service
6.    Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
7.    Office of the Inspector General
8.    Securities and Exchange Commission
9.    U.S. Customs Service
10.    U.S. Department of Transportation
11.    U.S. Marshals Service
12.    U.S. Postal Inspection Service
13.    U.S. Secret Service

IV.    Crime and Courts (Summary Information on Crime in the U.S.; Format of a Criminal Trial)

    A.    Charge Dismissals

    B.    Prison Statistics (trends)

    C.    Evidence Issues

        1.    Confessions

        2.    Search and Seizure

    D.    Plea Bargaining (arguments:  pro; con)

V.    Gun Regulations and Crime

    A.    Federal Laws (summary; documents and proposed legislation)

    B.    Firearms and Crime Statistics


Key Web Sites

Bureau of Justice Statistics

2000 Data on Law Enforcement, Courts and Prisons

Crime and Justice:  Federal Statistics

FBI

Megalinks for Criminal Justice

Organized Crime:  A Crime Statistics Site

Death Penalty Links

University of Alaska Justice Center:  Focus on Gun Control