Citation

Christianson S. Crim. Justice Behav. 1974; 1(3): 247-277.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/009385487400100304

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The criminal justice system operates on a war model. War mentality pervades the entire criminal justice process, determining to an important extent how we treat criminal "enemies." The war model is characterized by identification of enemies and heroes, estimate of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, development of strategy, development of military weapons and resources, utilization of dishonest language, and establishment of goals and objectives which are designed to produce "victory." We must eliminate the system's distasteful emphasis on force, physical courage, weapons, and the twin concepts of "enemies" and "heroes." Society can no longer afford to wage war either in the trenches or in the streets.

Language: en