...Crime and the Criminal Justice System Alicia Gilbert CJA/204 October 16, 2012 Bill Keller Crime and the Criminal Justice System Crime is conduct in violation of criminal laws set by the federal government, state, or local jurisdiction for which there is no legal justification or excuse (Criminal Justice Today, 2011, p. 7). In order for society to distinguish criminal acts, two different models are considered: crime control and due process. Crime control oversees the efficient arrest and conviction of criminal offenders, and due process emphasizes individual’s rights through all stages of the justice system. Criminal justice fails society when it fails in either of these two perspectives. There are three different branches of government: legislative, which passes laws; executive, which enforces laws, and judicial which interprets and explains laws. The legislative branch for the federal government is Congress, which is broken down into the Senate and House of Representatives, at the state level, the state senate, and state house of representatives pass the laws, and on the local level, city council passes the laws. The President of the United States is the executive over federal law, the governor is the executive for state law, and the mayor is the executive for local law. Judicial law is interpreted by the Supreme Court at the federal level; states Supreme Court at the state level, and district courts at the local level. There are several components within...
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...GENDER, CRIME AND JUSTICE Gender patterns in crime * Most crime appears to be committed by males * Heidensohn: gender differences are perhaps the most significant feature of recorded crime * Higher propotion of female than males offenders are convicted of propert offences. Most males are convicted of violence/sexual offences * Males are more likely to repeat offenders and commit more serious crimes Do women commit more crime? They underestimate the amount of females as against females offending * Females crimes such as shoplifting are less likely to be reported * Even when women’s crimes are detected or reported, they are less likely to be prosecuted The chivalry thesis It argues that most criminal justice agents are men, and men are socialised to act in a chivalrous way towards women * Otto Pollack: men have a protective attitude towards women * Criminal justice system is more lenient with women and so their crimes are less likely to end up in oficial statistics, so gives and invalid picture exaggerating gender differences. Eg. males were 2.33 times more likely to admit committing crime, whereas oficial statistics shows males as four times more likely * Evidence * David Farrington and Alison Morris- study of sentencing 408 offences of theft in magistrates court * Women aapear to be treated more leniently, may be because offences are less serious * Box: women who commit serious offences are not treated more favourably...
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...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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...Emerging Research or Policy Issue Related To The Study of Race, Crime, and Juvenile Justice. Ronita D. Hemingway CRJC 352 Special Problems in Criminal Justice Professor Lori Guevera July 7, 2014 The most important emerging research or policy issue related to the study of race, crime, and juvenile justice system is the appropriate actions in the handling of juveniles. Since the start of the juvenile court in 1899, programs and policies have been implemented. Even with the policies and programs that were implemented to deter juveniles, juvenile crimes are still major social issues within our society. As some research has pointed out, kids who display delinquent juvenile behavior early in their youth stages are at a greater risk of offending within their adolescent years. When it comes to race, crime, and the juvenile justice, violence, substance abuse, and mental health are the three main issues that should be focused upon on when dealing with male and female delinquents. Individualized rehabilitation treatment was a highly recognized policy and practice during the 1970s and 1980s. This model focused on the placement of juveniles, who offended, to be placed in a setting that is community-based and less/non-secure. In 1960, the rights of juveniles had rose, which included due process. Due process gave juveniles the right to counsel and their protection against self-incrimination, in which juvenile courts started performing in the same manner as adult courts. Other form...
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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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...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 last half century has been the main reason for the way our courts, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system operates the way that it does today. There have been many crime waves and other events that have played a key role in shaping the system as it is today. Some of...
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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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...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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...reflection to realize that the term ‘just’ and ‘justice’ is vital to the operation of society and social networks. We are perhaps fortunate that we have lost one of the senses which the term had for the Greeks, the sense in which, justice was equivalent to virtue in general; nevertheless we can use the concept in many different contexts to make a variety of moral and political points, Zajda & Rust, (2006). First and foremost before one can truly define social justice we have to start with what is justice itself. Justice is defined as a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural, religion, fairness, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; it’s just the act of being fair. Our understanding of the concepts of social justice can be viewed as important because it works along with the criminal justice system model. A general definition of social justice is hard to arrive at and even harder to implement. In essence, social justice is concerned with equal justice, not just in the courts, but in all aspects of society. This concept demands that people have equal rights and opportunities; everyone, from the poorest person on the margins of society to the wealthiest deserves an even playing field. The concept of social justice was coined by Jesuit Luigi Taparelli in 1840 based on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and given further exposure in 1848 by Antonio Rosmini-Serbati. Social justice covers an array of issues; hence it is very...
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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 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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...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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...Restorative Justice Paper Luis Sanchez Life is about making wrong and bad choices, there is not a single individual on earth that was born with the appropriated knowledge of what is right and was wrong. No individual is perfect they are all equal and all go through struggle, and by struggling choices are being made whether are choices with appropriate behavior or inappropriate behavior. Some individuals know how to control themselves before a tragedy occurs, but most fail to control their temper and they violate the law, and by violating the law consequences are implement because justice must be obtain. Once an offender commits crime then it is more likely for the case to go to trial. The criminal justice system is the practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control. So when crime occurs the defendant will receive either a punishment or sentence. The criminal justice system and other systems that are against crime and inappropriate behavior are always on the side of the victim, because their goal is to obtain justice. The restorative justice is an approach to justice that focus on the needs of the victims and offenders, as well as the involved community instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender. Restorative justices involve both victim and offender and focuses on the personal needs. It is based on a theory of justice that considers crime and wrongdoing to be an offence against an individual...
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