3rd Annual Academic Symposium - David Stephenson

Over the last century, the international community has faced pressure to generate a justice system to combat a set of newly defined crimes. Now, internationally recognized atrocities have been brought into this evolving jurisdictional effort through a variety of legal and political means. New institutions such as the International Criminal Court have been created and tasked with prosecuting and controlling these behaviors. The efficacy of these schemes remains questionable. Many offenders face none of the threatened sanctions. In areas which have yet to consent to the jurisdiction of these agencies, where such crimes often take place, some behaviors may have expanded, as offenders and issues are forced away from policed areas. This paper will analyze the institutional methodologies utilized to establish this new regulatory scheme. More specifically, this research will seek to determine how this justice system affects the rate and severity of targeted behavior. Conclusions will be what, if any, policy or procedural changes could be made to improve efforts to address major international crimes.