Recent Book: Evaluating Performance of Criminal Justice Agencies
| Author | Charles Clark |
| Date | 01 October 1984 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8405700419 |
| Published date | 01 October 1984 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
C. H. MOISER, Solicitor and Justices' Clerk, Plymouth: A Guide to
Disqualifications and Endorsements for Traffic Offences.
Plymouth: Basset Publications. £2.50.
This is the second edition of this useful little booklet - only 16pages - which now
incorporates the new fines applicable from May I, 1984.
Written as a quick and easy reference for those faced with unravelling the
complexities of this subject, it includes a table of offences with penalty points,
maximum penalties and D of E codes. Useful and good value! E.D.
T. I. McLEOD LL.B., B.A.: Principles of Statutory Interpretation.
Chichester: Barry Rose (Publishers) Ltd. £8.20.
A small booklet, with a happy economy of words, which encapsulates the main
aspects of the subject without indulging in a plethora of academic commentary. In
skeletal form, undoubtedly, but with sufficient flesh on the bones to constitute a
quick reference work which, in the words of the author may serve"as a plank in a
shipwreck".
Set in seven short chapters, the book ranges from "Principles", through
"Presumptions", "The Anatomy of a Statute" and "Extrinsic Materials to Specific
Problems", ending with a brief exposition of "Delegated Legislation".
A useful table of cases is provided to which reference is made inthe script. In
short, a pocket reference book for all court practitioners. E.D.
GORDON P. WHITAKER and CHARLES DAVID
PHILLIPS
(eds.):
Evaluating Performance of Criminal Justice Agencies. (Vol. 19 - Sage Criminal
Justice Systems Annuals).
London: Sage Publications.
With recession biting hard at national economies, the allocation of resources in the
public sector is being subjected to greater scrutiny. Criminal Justice Agencies are
just one part of the large public body that is being scrutinized. The collection of
articles presented in this book takes a wide and varied look at the performance of
the police, the courts and the prison service in America. The book is split into three
parts to cover the respective topics.
The first part of the book relates to police performance and the opening article
by Wycoff and Manning suggests that concentration on crime related matters
cannot be an adequate measure of police effectiveness.The alternative suggested by
the authors seems very like, "policing by objectives", although the argument is
made in general terms only.
The next article by Mastrofski also focuses on the inadequaces of too much
police time being spent on crime-fighting. The importance of the "non-crime"
function is stressed and it is argued that a greater understanding of this needs to be
developed before an adequate comprehension can be acquired of the whole police
role.
Smith and Klein, in their article, concentrate on the characteristics of police
agencies and their relationship to arrest decisions. They endeavour to show, by
statistical means, a relationship between organizational properties and arrest
decisions but, towards the end of the article, there are a number of contradictory
statements and moreover, the authors admit that several normative issues have
been ignored.
Ostrom's article, "Equity in Police Services", starts by outlining a general
principle for empirical analysis of equitable police performance. The article then
contrives to focus on methodological and conceptual difficulties which minimize
the empirical findings. Nevertheless, the article touches on important and
interesting issues which need to be considered by those looking to examine police
performance.
October /984 403
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