...Crime and the Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system and the process have molded the laws of the United States to its current existence. The judicial system is designed to punish those who commit crimes against one another and for those who break the laws in other ways. According to Pearson (2012), crime can be defined as conduct in violation of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. Pearson (2012) also states, that “crime” depends on where you are, which means it is a daily routine for society and directly affects a person, place, and any witnesses associated with it. The American criminal justice system has many elements with crime as the major one. In essence, if there were no crime, there would be no need for a criminal justice system. The intention of this paper is to describe the elements of the criminal justice system and the process it goes through to prosecute a criminal. The research conducted will also describe the government structure and its relevance to the criminal justice system, the diverse elements, and the role law enforcement has with aiding society in maintaining social order and guidance. Law enforcement has many levels in America. There are federal, state, local police agencies, with the same goal of stopping crime, arresting suspects, and completing investigations when crimes are committed. Nevertheless, police are accountable for so much more than people...
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...Crime and the Criminal Justice System Victoria Munoz Introduction to criminal justice CJS/201 April 6, 2015 Brenda Barney A society needs law to uphold fairness and to prevent the victimization of innocents. The definition of crime is any conduct in violation of the criminal law of the state, the federal government or local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. How law in relations to crime, is there is no crime unless a law is written, then broken to become a crime. The most common model of how socialite determines which acts are criminal is Due process and Crime control. Due process is one person’s Miranda rights, crime control arrest as many criminals to get them off the streets to reduce crime rates. The federal, state and the local government make up the government structure of criminal justice system. These three branches make the laws, make them official and decide what is constitutional and what is not. Some believe that crime is on the rise due to economic conditions, family conditions (divorces, family cohesiveness) and the lack of law enforcement help. Some believe that the system is bias and not punishment goes unjustified. The police ensures community safety, they also enforce the law. The courts decide criminal cases and pass down sentence and the corrections carry out the sentences, rehabilitate if needed. The goals of the criminal justice system are deterrence, to inhibit criminal behavior through the fear of...
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...) The reason is because most civil wrongs have to do with damages such as injuries or economic losses which might requires just compensation for the damages, whereas with criminal wrongs, the damages can involve dead or physical harm and with such cases, the liability assigned will be in order to punish the defendant severely so that the defendant will never commit such wrong again. I do believe a wrong doer should be punish for both civil and criminal wrongs for the same wrong doing only if she is found guilty of committing both crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. Secondly, with regards to the negligence per se doctrine, which permits a wrong doer to be automatically liable for committing both civil and criminal crimes, this wrong doer in question should be punish for both crimes because she might not feel the pains of the punishment if she is asked to pay only for compensatory damages. However, if this wrong doer is also convicted of criminal charges which is a more severe punishment, it will be hard for the wrong doer to commit the same act in the future....
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...The conflict and crime model of justice places a high priority on reducing criminal activity in society by increasing the powers of law enforcement personnel and the prosecutors. The consensus and due process model places emphasis on the individual’s rights and liberty and is concerned about the overwhelming power of the government over the individual. The role each plays is the same, which means each model is funded by the government. The crime control model is in complete agreement with programs that are funded to prosecute with an iron hand. The due process model supporters want less government involvement and more humane treatment. The United States is at great risk in the war against terror. The American homeland is not secure even though there have been several new laws passed such as the Patriot Act, the Visa Reform Act, enhanced border security, and reorganization of several federal government agencies into the Department of Homeland Security. The United States Department of Justice has asked that state and local law enforcement help secure the American homeland. The federal government has groups involved in maintaining border security, other officers working on immigration enforcement, but many feel as though the government has taken a “hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil” approach to illegal immigration. Police at the state and local levels often are puzzled about how much authority they have in regard to immigration laws. Local law enforcement officers...
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...Criminal Justice System Humberto Garcia CJA/204 January 13.2014 David Mitchell, MPA Criminal Justice System To talk about criminal justice is important to define crime, its relationship to the law, and the two most common models of how society determines which acts are criminal. Also is important to describe the government structure as it applies to the criminal justice system. Furthermore, identifying the choice theories and their assumptions in regards to crime is important. As well as describing the components of the criminal justice system and the criminal justice process. In addition, identifying the goals of the criminal justice system is essential when talking about criminal justice, and addressing thoughts on whether the criminal justice system is really a system. Defining a crime and its relationship to the law is an important component when talking about criminal justice. In fact, according to University of Phoenix, CJi Interactive, crime can be defined as “conduct in violation of the criminal law of the state, the federal government, or local jurisdiction, for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse.” Meaning, that every crime depends on the location of the person who broke the law, which the same suggest that a person’s behavior may not be consider a crime depending on the status of the person who committed the crime, and even why this person broke the law. Consequently, society determines which are criminal acts...
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...Criminal Justice System Paper Introduction In the field of Criminal Justice in America it is important to explore the parts of the criminal justice systems and the processes that occur. Many of the parts and processes in the Criminal Justice System shall be discussed in this work. Crime will be defined in relation to the law. Models of how society views acts as criminals will be reviewed. Choice theories will also be revealed in this work. The Instruments and government structure in relation to criminal justice shall be reviewed as well in this paper Criminal justice is exciting to review. Crime What is crime? Crime has an important definition with an important relation to the law. Crime is not defined by any one individual. It is important to explore what crime is defined as in society. Crime is, conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction, for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. There is no justifying or excusing these acts (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 7). Crimes definition plays a major role in determining which acts are criminal as well as the models that are presented. Government Structure The government is structured in such a way as to support the Criminal Justice System in America. The first part of that structure is the Constitution. The Constitution outlines laws, freedoms and power to several governmental agencies. Government first plays a role in making laws. Then insure enforcement...
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...constitution to criminal suspects and law abiding citizens need to be upheld and defended. On the public-order side of things, the needs of communities to be protected from unlawful and/or harmful behavior must be recognized as well. These two sides have opposing groups: individual-rights advocates and public-order advocates. Individual-rights advocates focus on just that. They make sure the rights of citizens and suspects are both upheld (like the right to a speedy trial and bail). Public-order advocates are there to make sure that the public (communities) are also protected from unacceptable behavior... Describe the American experience with crime during the last half century. What noteworthy criminal incidents or activities can you identify during that time, and what social and economic conditions might have produced them? The American experience with crime during the last half century has been especially influential in shaping the criminal justice system of today. Although crime waves have come and gone, some events during the past century stand out as especially significant, including a spurt of widespread organized criminal activity associated with the Prohibition years of the early twentieth century; the substantial increase in “traditional” crimes during the 1960s and 1970s; the threat to the American way of life represented by illicit drugs around the same time; and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (Dworkin, 2005)., The American experience with crime during the...
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...Criminal Justice System Mackenzie CJA/204 November 15, 2014 Erica Veljic Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system has many parts that emphasize the importance of following and abiding the law. Crime is a large problem throughout the world and is attempted to be controlled by local and governmental officials. The parts of the criminal justice system are supposed to work as a “well-oiled machine” in receiving justice for crimes committed. Unfortunately it seems that although all agencies of the criminal justice system have the same goal, none work in sync to solidify criminal justice as a system. Crime According to The Free Dictionary Online (2014), crime is “a violation of a law in which there is injury to the public or a member of the public and a term in jail or prison, and/or a fine as possible penalties”. Crime is punishable by the legal sanctions. The relationship between crime and law is without the strict enforcement of the law crime cannot be prevented. The two most common models of how society determines a criminal act include consensus and conflict models. Through the consensus model, society shares the same morals even though communities are quite diverse. The crimes that violate this morally valued system are deemed harmful to society. The conflict model holds that because society is so diverse people are constantly engaged in a power struggle. Those within the dominate groups will codify their beliefs and values into hard law (Thomas, Cage, &...
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...Criminal Justice System Assessment Introduction The criminal justice system is a crucial feature of American culture and the foundation of the Bill of Rights within the United States Constitution. The sole intentions of the laws are to safeguard the people from harm, ensure the publics safety, and uniformly treated. The criminal justice system labors to safeguard the guiltless and discipline the responsible without infringing the right of the suspected offender, refraining from any corruption. As society progresses the criminal justice system must advance so it is vital to establish new laws remain current on the advancement and new trends. As contemporary issues and new trends evolve in society, they can endure a precise affect on the various roles of the criminal justice system, for example, sentencing policy, procedures, technologies, and capital punishment, which harbor immense impacts on the criminal justice system. Furthermore, corrections, courts, and the police additionally take part in establishing retribution. Contemporary and future trends are going to and have direct impacts on the duties of the criminal justice system. Recently technology has been influencing the criminal justice system and will remain. In the forever-changing world of technology, the criminal justice system must keep up with recently developed technologies. This essay will explain recent and future trends and contemporary issues affecting the criminal justice system and the value of the criminal...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation 1 Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation December 10, 2012 CJA/394 Troy Hokanson Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation 2 Introduction The criminal justice system is very important to American society. The reason for laws are to defend society from harm, make certain each person is safe as well as to be treated fairly. The criminal justice system labors to defend the guiltless and to discipline the guilty without putting at risk an individual’s rights.This paper will evaluate the future of the criminal justice system as well as the past and present trends in the interface between components of the criminal justice system. Furthermore, it will identify contemporary issues that are affecting the criminal justice system as well as the value of the criminal justice system as society changes. Seeing that society is advancing, the criminal justice system must also change. The need for new laws are apparent in order to continue with advancement and new trends in society. However, new trends and contemporary issues can have an immediate influence on the various operations of the criminal justice system. These include, advancing technology, sentencing, and the death sentence. All of these have huge effects on the criminal justice...
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...The criminal justice system and the criminal justice process has shaped the laws of this country into what they are today from the concerns of politicians and government leaders as far back as the 1800s with crime control. (Wilt, Harman, 2012)The criminal justice system consists of three main parts Legislative create laws adjudication courts corrections jails, prisons, probation and parole. In the criminal justice system, these distinct agencies operate together both under the rule of law and as the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society. Crime is conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. This can be an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed major to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally established. Crime is any specific act by law for which the society has provided a formal use upon each person punishment. This can include the failure of a person to perform an act specifically required by law. Crimes relationships to the law are several of them such as, criminal laws. The criminal laws pertain to crimes and punishment; however this justifies the relationship between crime and the law. The two most common models of how the society has determined what acts are criminal by what society itself considers normal. This is defined by how society interacts within itself. This leads...
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...The Criminal Justice System in Modern Day Society According to Schmalleger (2015) the American experience with crime during the last half century has been especially influential in shaping the criminal justice system of today. Crime is defined as “conduct in violation of the criminal laws of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction, for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse,” (Schmalleger, 2015). Therefore, what constitutes a crime is regulated by local, state and federal laws. Moreover, what is deemed a crime in one state may not be a crime in another state; this is because each unit of government is charged with defining what is classified as a crime within that particular jurisdiction. Likewise, each governmental agency is responsible for the detection and subsequent prosecution of crimes that are committed. Society determines which acts are criminal by using two models known respectively as the consensus model and the conflict model. Schmalleger (2015) suggest that the consensus model is based on majority of the people within a society sharing the same values and beliefs. This group of people determined what is considered right and what is considered wrong. If a member of the groups acts in opposition of the agreed upon norms, and the act threatens the safety of well being of the group, the act is considered illegal and therefore is subject to reprimand. The conflict model seems to suggest that criminal acts are...
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...Global Crime Analysis Paper Jessica Cross CJA/394 October 20, 2013 Global crimes transcend national borders and threaten American citizens and communities, businesses, and institutions, as well as global security and stability. The classification of global crimes can be categorized according to if the behavior is international and constitutes a crime against the world, or if the act is transnational that affects the interests of more than one state (Global Solutions, n.d.). The contents of this essay will identify the various major global crimes and criminal issues that have a global impact on national and international justice systems and processes. In addition, the text will discuss the various international justice systems and how these global crimes and criminal issues are addressed. Fueled by open borders, global markets, and the advancement of telecommunications, international crime has become a rising universal problem. In 1995, President Clinton classified international crime as a danger to the national interest of the United States. Therefore, before and since then the federal government has been busy in a converging effort to address various major global crimes, such as human rights and war crimes, organized crime and narcotics, cybercrime, environmental crime, and terrorism (Global Solutions, n.d.). Human Rights and War Crimes are inhuman acts committed by an extensive or systematic attack aimed against individuals, such as genocide, crimes against...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation Jazmine I. James CJA 394 April, 07, 2014 Marilyn West Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation There are many trends; future and past in the interfaces between components of the criminal justice system and criminal justice connections with surrounding society. It is very important to understand past, present and future trends throughout the criminal justice system in order to better handle and address them better. Some trends have been known to affect the criminal justice system in a negative way instead of in a positive way. For many the criminal justice system plays a major role in how society changes and how society values criminal justice in this era. The purpose of criminal justice and the law is to protect society from harm and ensure their safety as well as to protect the innocent and punish those guilty of committing a crime but at the same time doing so without violating their rights. As the world evolves, new laws have to be set in place to keep up with the evolution of criminal justice and crimes. New trends and contemporary issues can develop in society and can also have a direct impact on the criminal justice system. Technology is one of the biggest trends in the world that continues to improve on a daily basis and make life easier but complex at the same time. Technology affects the criminal justice system and will continue to do so every day because it creates a new category of crimes that can and are being committed...
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...Crime relationship to the law The "Dictionary.com" (2014) website defines the word crime as “an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited. Law can be defined as a set of rule for society to abide by for safety. Committing a crime is a disobedient act of the law which is their relationship. Government structure as it applies to criminal justice According to "The National Center for Victims of a Crime" (2012), the criminal justice system is the set of agencies and processes recognized by governments to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate the law. There are multiple criminal justice system in the United States. The criminal justice system works in each area depends on the jurisdiction that is in charge ("The National Center for Victims of a Crime", 2012). There are two main systems that most individuals are aware of knowing. The first system is the state. The state handles crimes committed with in that state and no other. The second is the federal. The federal criminal justice system handles crimes committed on federal grounds or in multiple states ("The National Center for Victims of a Crime", 2012). Theories and Assumptions in regards to a Crime Rational cause, sociological positivism, biological positivism, and psychological positivism are the four choice theories for crime.” Rational cause is the basis of the theory explains offender...
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