The Relation of the Police and the Courts to the Crime Problem - A Report Submitted to the National Crime Commission by the Sub-Committee on Pardons, Parole, Probation, Penal Laws and Institutional Correction

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

Report outlining how police and courts influence the handling of crime, arguing that effective punishment depends first on capturing and convicting offenders. Uses findings from state and city crime commissions and focuses on public understanding of the roles of police and courts in reducing crime. Emphasizes that only a small proportion of crimes lead to arrests and convictions, and calls for vital improvements in the organization and work of both police and courts. Includes discussion of blame allocation and supporting data.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Where to Place the Blame for Our Excessive Amount of Crime

Only a Small Proportion of the Criminals Are Caught by the Police

Relation of the Police and Courts to the Crime Problem

97-84128-10National CrimeCommission The relation of the policeand the courts to the.. [New York] [1928] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGBAPHIC MICBOFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD | 308
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Box 496National crime commission.
….The relation of the police and the courts to the crime
probem;a report submitted to the National crime commission
by the Sub-committee on pardons,parole,probation,penal
laws and institutional correction,Frank O.Lowden,chairman,
Louis N.Robinson,secretary,Arnold Bennett Hall rand
others …New York?1928₁
37 p.diagr.23.
At head of title:Date of release,February 28,1928.
"Prepared by the secretary of the committee,Dr.Louis N.Robin-
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Library of Congress
3511j | | --- | Reproductions may not be made without permsion trom Columbia Universty Libraries. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mREDUCTION RATIO: 10:/ IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA IB IB DATE FILMED: 7/3INITIALS:I 一. TBACKING\#: 25545 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. | The Relation of the
Police and the Courts to
the Crime Problem
A REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE
NATIONAL CRIME COMMISSION BY
THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON PARDONS,
PAROLE,PROBATION,PENAL LAWS
AND INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTION
FRANK O.LoWDEN,Chairman
Louis N.RoBINSON,Secretary
ARNOLD BENNETT HALL
MRS.JESSIE D.HODDER
HoN.CLARK HoWELL
SAM A.LEWISOHN
Hon.SUMNER T.McKNIGHT
HoN.GEORGE L.RADCLIFFE
Hon.CHARLES S.WHITMAN
308
写x49
Z | | --- | FOREWORD In this report prepared by the secretary of the committee,Dr.Louis N.Robinson,the attempt has been made to gather togethersome of the most important findings of the state and city crimecommissions with respect to the relation of the police and thecourts to the present crime problem.In addition,certain sug-gestions looking toward the improvement of these two agencieshave been sketched in outline,although no effort has been madeto make this report a treatise on police organization or the lawof criminal procedure.The public is,we believe,entitled to asufficient amount of information to enable it to understand howgreatly the solution of the crime problem depends on the policeand on the courts. In our opinion,too much attention has been focused on thepunishment of criminals.But before a criminal can be punished,or dealt with as science suggests,he must first be caught andconvicted.Recent investigations have revealed for the first timehow small the proportion really is of convictions to crimes com-mitted or to individuals arrested.The effectiveness,of course,of any form of punishment or of any kind of treatment dependsin large part on the number of criminals on whom the punish-ment or treatment can be brought to bear.This fact we seemlately to have overlooked,contenting ourselves with the drasticpunishment of the few who have been caught.This is an easyway out,too easy in fact to bring results.Improvements in theorganization and in the work of both the police and the courtsare vitally necessary if we are to make headway against crime.This much at least is certain. FRANK O.LowDEN. # WHERE TO PLACE THE BLAME FOR OUREXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CRIME There are three parts to the machine of criminal justice whichwe have set up to protect ourselves from the depredations ofcriminals.They are the police,the courts,and the institutionsand agencies which deal with convicted offenders.The publichas not seemed to grasp the importance of the role which thepolice and the courts play in our effort to reduce crime,and isinc

FAQs

What does the report identify as the most important linkage in the criminal justice process?

It argues that before punishment or any treatment can occur, criminals must first be caught and convicted, making police and courts central to outcomes.

Why does the report criticize heavy focus on punishment after crimes are committed?

Because investigations showed a small proportion of convictions relative to crimes committed or individuals arrested, making punitive emphasis ineffective without stronger upstream enforcement.

How does the report frame responsibility for the nation’s crime record?

It insists the police and courts bear a full share of responsibility, while recognizing that institutions handling convicted offenders also deserve accountability.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore