The Framework of Criminal Justice

The Framework of Criminal Justice examines the criminal justice process using six models: due process, crime control, bureaucratic, medical, status passage, and power. It assesses how closely the activity and behavior within the system follow the formal protections granted by the British system of justice and suggests that real reform must understand the political nature of the criminal justice system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the comprehensive framework of criminal justice, originally published in 1981, the criminal justice process is meticulously analyzed using six distinct models, each offering a unique justification for criminal justice and punishment. These models include the due process model, which strives for fair and equal justice between parties; the crime control model, which aims to punish wrongdoing and deter future crimes; the bureaucratic model, which focuses on controlling crime and criminals; the medical model, which prioritizes offender rehabilitation; the status passage model, which publicly denounces crime and criminals; and the power model, which maintains dominance by the ruling class and reinforces class values.

The study delves into the formal rules and procedures of the magistrate court system within the framework of these models, examining the roles of various actors such as police, defendants, magistrates, court clerks, and lawyers. Furthermore, the study presents eight scenes that unfold from the defendant's arrest to sentencing, assessing how closely the activities and behaviors within the system adhere to the formal protections granted by the British system of justice.

What emerges from this analysis is a startling realization: the criminal justice process is far more complex and the rules far more open to interpretation than commonly believed. This miscalculation has led to the failure of various reforms, with special attention given to the Bail Reform Act of 1976 and two sections of the Criminal Law Act of 1977.

To achieve genuine reform, the book suggests, it is imperative to understand the political nature of the criminal justice system. Only by recognizing the underlying power dynamics and social structures that shape the system can we hope to create a more just and equitable criminal justice system.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032421667