
Taming the System
The Control of Discretion in Criminal Justice, 1950-1990
Samuel Walker(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 29. July 1993
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-19-507820-6 (ISBN)
Description
Since the American Bar Foundation Survey of the Administration of Criminal Justice (1953 - 1969) "discovered" the phenomenon of discretion in criminal justice, it has become something of a truism that the administration of criminal justice in the United States consists of a series of discretionary decisions by officials in regard to police discretion, bail, plea bargaining and sentencing.
This book is a history of the attempts over the past forty years to control these discretionary powers in the criminal justice system.
Walker brings together an enormous literature in a synthesis that will be of great value to professionals, reformers and students of the criminal justice system. In a field which largely produces short-ranged "evaluation research", this study, in taking a wider approach, distinguishes between the role of the courts and the role of administrative bodies (the police) and evaluates the longer-term trends and the successful reforms in criminal justice history.
This book is a history of the attempts over the past forty years to control these discretionary powers in the criminal justice system.
Walker brings together an enormous literature in a synthesis that will be of great value to professionals, reformers and students of the criminal justice system. In a field which largely produces short-ranged "evaluation research", this study, in taking a wider approach, distinguishes between the role of the courts and the role of administrative bodies (the police) and evaluates the longer-term trends and the successful reforms in criminal justice history.
Reviews / Votes
"Displays a formidable command of the relevant literature...A concise and balanced overview of a critical dimension in the operation of the criminal justice system."--CHOICE"[A] comprehensive, very well-organized, and informative account..."--Contemporary Sociology
"With such titles as Popular Justice: A History of American Criminal Justice (1980) and In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU (1990), Samuel Walker secured his status as a major voice in criminal justice history. Taming the System buttresses his reputation by demonstrating once again his considerable strengths: mastery of the topic, clear and effective prose, well-crafted arguments, [and] sound conclusions."--The
Journal of American History
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
tables and line figures throughout
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
425 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-507820-6 (9780195078206)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/1993
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€58.99
Available for download
Person
Author
Professor of Criminal JusticeProfessor of Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska, Omaha