Comparative Studies

Counteract:

Ethnocentrism

Increase understanding

Other people

Other cultures

Other places/countries

Other CJ systems-legal processes

Learn new things-what works, what doesn't

Become more aware of possible improvements to own system

Know who does what in the respective foreign CJ system

ALSO IMPORTANT:

Growing interdependence of countries of the world

Terrorism

Transnational Crime

Coordination of Activities-Investigative, prosecutorial, operational, technological

Law changes needed to address TN Crime

Global Economic Impact

Global Environmental Impact

Uniformity in regulating and criminalizing behavior

Uniformity in Human Rights Standards (higher)

Cooperation at diplomatic level-how useful

Cooperation at local agency level-when possible?

Barriers to cooperation?

Laws

Economic/Political/Military conflicts

Absence of functioning CJ system

How does the US facilitate/hinder international cooperation?

QUESTION: Does the U.S. have the best CJ system in the world?

Why is this stated so often? What is the basis for the belief?

BOOK: Provides illustration of the protection against extended pretrial detention in four countries.

What is left out of description?

Absence of investigative detention-result in US? Early arrest

Comparison of Recognizance systems (Commercial, Recognizance, Criminalization, Non-financial, South Africa)

Author: historical recognizance system exists in only a few countries today

What does this mean to an arrested person?

Better focus: How quickly are you "arrested" in other countries compared to the U.S.

Impact or benefit of "investigative detention?"

Differences between ID and "pre-trial" detention?

Benefits to defendant?

Adherence to International Treaties when arresting foreign nationals:

Article on detaining foreign nationals

Treaty regarding Consular Notification

Instructions for implementing treaty

Important Concepts/Information:

Areas in which comparative studies increase understanding

Reasons for growing interdependence of countries around the world

Barries to cooperation between countries

International agreements do not always filter down to state/local law enforcement in the U.S.

Different perceptions of what is terrorism in the global community

Differences in legal and human rights standards can impede the fight against O.C. and Terrorism