Learning about the major sub-systems within the criminal justice system has taught me a lot about how it relates to the Biblical principles that we utilized every week in our lessons. Fisher tells us that the “importance of the covenant is the sharing of the power” (2016). The sharing of the power is how law enforcement agencies enforce the law. Everyone has the shared power to make sure citizens are being protected. The law enforcement sub-system consists of the county law enforcement, state law enforcement, municipal law enforcement, and the federal law enforcement. “Altogether, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels protect life and property and serve their respective publics” …show more content…
All I knew about the court system was the fictional roles that I see all too often on my television screen at home. My perception was that the prosecutor was the one that was most hated in the courtroom because whether the defendant was guilty or not they wanted to charge them with something to get a winning case. I also thought that the judge could change a guilty or not guilty verdict if they feel like justice is not being served. Since taking this class I now have a clear understanding of each person’s role in the courtroom. The prosecutor’s role is “the most powerful role in the administration of justice” (TB285). “They conduct the final screening of each person arrested, decide whether there is enough evidence to support a conviction, have unreviewable discretion in deciding whether to charge a person with a crime, and whether to prosecute the case” (TB 285). The defense attorney role is to defend the accused that is charged with a crime and to guide them through each step of the legal process. This includes doing all the research necessary to get an understanding of the case, so they can better represent their client. The judge role “is to ensure that the suspects and the defendants are treated fairly and in accordance with due process of law” …show more content…
However, my new perception is based on truth. The reason I know that my new perception is based on truth is because Fischer tells us that “the importance of the covenant is mutual accountability” (2016). Mutual accountability is how the court system works together to fight for justice. They fight for the victim, the community, and the offender. Each key actor in the court system has that important role they play to make sure justice is being served. For example, a man decides to rob a home while an elder lady is inside. She awakes while he is in the process of robbing her. He assaults her and leaves her injured. The man is caught days later. Luckily the woman survives and is able to identify her attacker. Let’s just say the prosecutor drops the balls and the man is set free and is back out in the community committing more crimes. Who is held accountable? The entire criminal justice system is held accountable not just the prosecutor because everyone works together to serve