Activism, Accountability and Justice

Contents: Preface. 1. Activism, inactivism in justice administration. 2. Police activism and accountability. 3. Judicial activism and accountability. 4. Lawyers' activism and accountability. 5. Media activism and accountability. 6. Publics activism and accountability. 7. Correctional agencies, activism and accountability. Bibliography. Index.

"Police, prosecutor, defence, judge, media, people and correctional services all are subsystems in justice administration. They can be activists for the cause of justice and each one of them has an accountability to the crime-doer, to the victim of crime, victim of abuse of power/misuse of authority, to the society and to the justice system. The activism can be positive or negative which accordingly will be favoured or disfavoured. This book deals with activism and accountability of the subsystems in justice administration. The question is "is activism necessary to administer justice?" If necessary, what must be the objectives of the so named activism? Should it be correction oriented?-Conviction oriented?-acquittal oriented? If activism is not truly and correctly oriented, then it becomes an atrocity-argues the author. Activism is not activation.

In justice administration, all subsystems have only one objective and that is correction of the crime-doer. In doing so, they see to it that justice in its various dimensions in fully ensured. The victim justice, human rights justice, gender justice, juvenile justice and other dimensions of justice administration must be honestly honoured so that the correction of the offenders is actualized. The police, prosecutors, judges, media, people, correction-officials must be genuinely active to achieve this objective-feels the author.

Judicial activism-what is it? People are confused. If so, they are more confused about police activism and activism shown by other subsystems. This book gives clarity to the concepts and highlights the meaning and need for accountability. Police officers, judges, lawyers, prosecutors, media-men officials involved in correctional services and the general public concerned with administration of fair justice will find the book highly enlightening and interesting. New concepts and interpretations are seen throughout the book." (jacket)