Federal crime legislation through the eyes of Alexis de Tocqueville

Analyses the political process involved in the passage of federal crime legislation in 1994 & revisions under consideration in 1995 as a manifestation of three central themes about the US politics articulated by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America (1835). It is argued that "crackd...

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Veröffentlicht in:Crime, law, and social change law, and social change, 1995-04, Vol.23 (3), p.175-189
1. Verfasser: LEVINE, J.P
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Analyses the political process involved in the passage of federal crime legislation in 1994 & revisions under consideration in 1995 as a manifestation of three central themes about the US politics articulated by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America (1835). It is argued that "crackdown" measures of dubious value in fighting crime are the result of majoritarianism, a national consensus favoring very conservative crime policies. Another factor is pluralism, the strong role played by interest groups in US politics. Thirdly, the racial politics that Tocqueville described as destined to plague the US indefinitely form a backdrop to the present formulation of crime control measures. Discussed in conclusion is a strategy for development of more enlightened crime policies in the face of stark realities about the nature of the policy-making process. 28 References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0925-4994
1573-0751