...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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...) 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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...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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...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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...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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...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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...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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...Criminal Justice Trends Demetria Wakefield CJA/394 May 13, 2014 Earl Garrett Criminal Justice Trends The criminal justice system is changing every year to protect and serve society better than the years before. The United States government, the state police, and local police look at the past to make changes for the future in fighting crime. The responsibilities of the state and local police are to fight crime by enforcing the law, apprehended offenders, prevent crime, and preserve the peace among societies. On September 11, 2001 police responsibilities changed because of the attack on the United States. State police expanded their responsibilities to fight terrorism, new laws, and new types of crimes. The criminal justice system has two main aims, which are to manage crime and to guarantee due process. This paper will discuss past, recent, and future trends, contemporary issues that are affecting the criminal justice system, and the criminal justice system in a changing society. Past Trends In the 1960’s the general downward crime rates that been marked since the 1930’s came to an end. Crime report rose, more arrests were being made, lawmakers started passing tougher laws that increased penalties, cases prosecuted by the court increased, more people was placed in prisons and jails, or placed on probation or parole, and spending by the government grew for criminal justice institutions. The Federal Government changed in an effort to fight crime. In the 1960’s, the...
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...There was a time when criminal justice was the responsibility of lords, landowners, and monarchs who had largely inherit roles as government leaders. After the feudal system, as it was known failed to stop bandits from selling wares in an 18th century medieval Europe, Napoleon introduced a military police force of sorts known as gendarme. This method of justice caught on even among Catholics, whose rules were based moral order. The criminal justice field is an ever evolving field. As today’s technology changes so does the way the criminal justice field interacts with technology. As society changes the technology also changes. The barriers that come along can affect how the criminal justice field interprets what to do next. The basis of the criminal justice system is to protect and serve the community as a whole. Keeping up with the changes in society is a vital part of the system. In the past the criminal justice system had to deal with rapes, robberies, murders, fights, and many of the same things today, but on a smaller scale. In the past law enforcement was more involved with the communities due to the fact that officers walked the streets on patrol. Officers talked with the citizens, and got to know the people within the communities. The result was a community that was not fearful, and that was trusting of the justice system. Years ago there was not the forensics to aid in a case, at the same time there was not today’s technology. As for the forensics this was a hindrance...
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...Criminal Justice System Name: Institutional Affiliation: Date: Question One The criminal justice system refers to the set of processes as well as agencies established by the governments aimed for controlling crimes as well as imposing penalties on individuals who violate laws. In America, various parts of the criminal justice system in America, including prisons, policing, and courts, developed gradually at the state and federal levels. Different jurisdictions have got different agencies, laws, as well as ways of managing the criminal justice processes. The criminal justice system of America was founded on common law, biblical teachings and the United States constitution as well as other sources. The criminal justice system is hugely based on the Bill of Rights which advocates for equal treatment of all individuals as well as ensuring that all the rights and liberties of individuals are well safeguarded. The modern criminal justice system is as a result of various evolutionary changes that the society has undergone ever since the inception of United States of America. The Americans relied significantly on religion in designing their criminal justice system which would help in shaping the American society as well as its behaviors (Burns, 2007). Question Two The American criminal justice helps in enforcing the country’s criminal laws. In America, criminal justice system is categorized into three levels: military, state and federal. In addition to these levels, every state...
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