Role of General Government Elected Officials in Criminal Justice

摘要

In this report, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations(ACIR) examines the intergovernmental, policy, funding, and management issues facing general government elected officials in dealing with effects of explosive growth in the criminal justice system. The report reflects four major elements of legislative and executive action: the magnitude of the criminal justice challenge; determining the criminal justice response to crime; holding agencies accountable and supporting program needs; and governing the non-system. It emphasizes the dynamics of criminal justice decision making--its sources of conflict, constitutional restraints, system impacts, and the potential for leadership. Prevention is addressed only as it is carried out by criminal justice programs. It does give considerable attention to concerns about the influence of federal policies on state and local criminal justice systems and on initiatives to try more criminal cases in federal courts. The goal of this report is to support the essential leadership role of general government elected officials.