...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...
Words: 1262 - Pages: 6
...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation Anthony Tomlin CJA/394 May 1, 2014 Professor Ken Jones Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation The American criminal justice system serves as a means for retribution and rehabilitation for criminals. In the early inception of the criminal justice system juries held the sentencing powers – convicting most criminals to death. Over the years sentencing powers shifted to judges. In this paper we will discuss the problems and changes in the criminal justice processes. The criminal justice system is not perfect but over the years there has been an continued improvement in the process. There are issues with the system that are being addressed such as prison overcrowding, three strikes rule, the disparity in sentencing for certain drug convictions, and the sentencing of minority groups. There are several future trends, such as training and educating law enforcement personnel, rehabilitating criminals, and law enforcement being proactive versus reactive. There are changes in the criminal justice system occurring and changes being lobbied by politicians. The future of criminal justice is constantly evolving with time but the full extent of how the changes will affect the system is not fully known. Some suggest laws of the past have been left behind by society and that change to the criminal justice system requires an overhaul to laws. Understand some of the crimes individuals commit warrant the sentencing received because...
Words: 1394 - Pages: 6
...and Crime Evaluation Charlie Jones CJA/354 February 9, 2015 ANN PERRY Victims and Crime Evaluation In the United State the criminal justice system is comprised of agencies. The justice system is established to protect people and to impose penalties on those who violate laws. There are several different agencies within the criminal system in the United States. Agencies are similar but different, because each county, state and federal or military installation has their own jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has different levels of managing criminal justice processes. Military has their own jurisdiction but depending on the crime they are still part of the two main systems: State criminal justice systems handle crimes committed within their state boundaries and Federal criminal justice system handles crimes committed on federal property or in more than one state. In the criminal justice system there are five components law enforcement officers, prosecution, defense attorneys, courts, and corrections. Each of the five components plays a key role in the criminal justice process. Far more importance is how victimization affects the roles of the prosecutor, defense attorney, criminal and victim. Prosecutor is to prosecute criminal within their jurisdiction. They are the administrator of justice, an advocate, and an officer of the court who representing the people in a trial. Prosecutor works with their local law enforcement agencies to prosecute criminals and to provide...
Words: 1455 - Pages: 6
...Corrections Trend Evaluation Tomas Gonzalez CJA / 394 February 4, 2014 Alfredo Cooke Corrections Trend Evaluation In this paper I will evaluate the past, present and future trends pertaining to the development and operation of institutional and community based correction. As part of the evaluation I will identify and analyze current and future issues facing prisons and prison administrators today. I will also identify and analyze the role/issue of alternate correction systems as a developing trend. Trends within the criminal justice system continue to influence the development and operations of institutions and community-based corrections. As mandatory sentencing laws can cause an increase in prison population, prison administrators face a daunting task in addressing the issues that overpopulation causes. “Apart from the highest priority of addressing prison population growth, prison managers are often confronted with an array of issues relating to imprisonment practices and their consequences” (Greenfeld, Beck, & Gillard, 1996, p.9). Development and Operations of Institutions The development and operations of institutions appears to operate around two opposing philosophies if punishment versus rehabilitation. The evolution of the development of corrections past, present and future has seen many changes throughout the inception of prisons. In the past the trends for prisons were solitary confinement with little concern for the rehabilitation of inmates. The well-being...
Words: 1117 - Pages: 5
...|Carleton University |Department of Law and Legal Studies | Course Outline | | | | |Course: | |LAWS 2301T | | | | | |Term: | |Summer 2016 | | | | | |Prerequisites: | |LAWS 1000 | |Class: |Day & Time: |online | | |Room: |N/A - there is no classroom; lectures will be viewable online | | | | ...
Words: 1393 - Pages: 6
...and predict criminal behavior is known as: a. Criminalistics b. Applied criminology c. Criminology d. Theology 2. "The insanity defense allows many dangerous offenders to escape conviction." This is: a. A biased statement b. A common myth regarding the criminal justice system c. Consistent with research findings in the field of applied criminology d. True in the United States, but not in most European nations 3. According to French sociologist Auguste Comte, the last stage of the progression of knowledge is: a. Theological b. Metaphysical c. Scientific d. Postmodernist 4. Most of the modern-day developments in criminology have taken place in which country? a. England b. Italy c. Spain d. United States 5. Behavior that is outside the range of normal societal toleration is best described as: a. Criminal b. Deviant c. Felonious d. Mala in se 6. As society becomes increasingly complex and heterogeneous, which of the following is typically true of society's efforts to maintain order? a. Society becomes increasingly reliant on informal methods of social control. b. Society becomes increasingly reliant on formal, codified laws. c. Society becomes entirely reliant upon police and the criminal justice system. d. Society becomes more reliant on religious organizations. 7. Which of the following is true of laws? a. Laws are the most efficient means of social control. b. Laws define which behaviors classify as "deviant" in a given society. c. Laws can be enforced...
Words: 2113 - Pages: 9
...Criminal Justice Evaluation CJA/354 Criminal Justice Evaluation Criminal law defines what conduct is considered criminal. The law defines the acts that may lead to an arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment. (Schmalleger, 2010) Criminal law protects society from harm, punishes individuals who have broken the law, maintains social order, rehabilitates offenders, and deters criminal activity (Schmalleger, 2010). The sources of criminal law include the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, statutes, ordinances, and regulations. According to the American Heritage Dictionary 2009, a jurisdiction is a “right or power to administer justice and to apply laws”. Jurisdictions include a territory, state, or entity in which the law is enforced. The United States has federalism which consists of two governments who have authority over Americans. These two governments are federal and state governments. Federal governments have authority over “interstate and international commerce, foreign relations, warfare, immigration, bankruptcy, civil rights, and certain crimes committed on the high seas and against the “law of nations” (international law)”. (Schmalleger, 2010, p. 26) State governments have jurisdiction over the welfare of the people within the state and local cities. State governments have the power to make laws to ensure the wellbeing of the people within the territory. Law enforcement agencies, and of the justice systems like the courts and the correctional system...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...Victims and Crime Evaluation CJA 354 April 17, 2012 Instructor name Introduction This evaluation paper will discuss the concept of victim, the evaluation will also address and explain the history and significance of victims’ assistance programs and the purpose of their functions as it applies to the criminal justice system. Also addressed will be the evaluation of problem solving courts and restorative justice and their affect on the criminal justice system , society, and victims. The definition of victim is described as any individual against whom an offense has been committed (Schmallager, et al, 2010). The concept of a victim is foreign to civil law, which speaks instead in terms of people who have been injured or wronged. According to Schmallager (2010), the word victim denotes someone who has been harmed through the kind of activity proscribed by the criminal law (Schmallager, et al, 2010). During the AD 400 era, the time known as "Golden Age of the victim" organized law enforcement agencies, judicial systems, and formal legal procedures were nonexistent. Individuals who were victimized by offenders would retaliate against the offender with the assistance of family members and friends. Once the offender was apprehended, the victim would hand out a punishment believed to be suitable for the crime committed and this type of behavior was accepted by a vast majority of society (Schmallager, et al, 2010). ...
Words: 1009 - Pages: 5
...Criminal Law Evaluation This paper is going to examine both the sources and purposes of criminal law. In addition to Identifying and explaining jurisdiction of individual states, local, and federal enforce of criminal law. Moreover, there are two standards of proof in criminal cases proof beyond reasonable doubt and the other one is a criminal act has to have been committed with criminal intent. Adversarial system is important to the criminal justice system because it consist of two advocates representing two different sides in front of a jury or judge to determine what is true and false. Discuss and differentiate the concepts of criminal liability and accomplice liability. Also, three different types of inchoate offenses that will be discussed are solicitation, conspiracy, and attempt. The purpose of criminal law is to make sure society does not experience harm, to warn them of the consequences, to define what the intent is for all offenses, to inform society of the seriousness of the of offenses, to punish people for their wrong doings, and to make sure the victim and anyone connected including the public receive justice (Schmalleger, 2010). Criminal law also provides society with regulations and informs people of the consequences for breaking the law. For example, it makes a distinction in regard to petty and severe crimes. In addition to conveying criminal laws purpose is to keep society safe by giving and enforcing rules with deterrence, rehabilitation, and punishments...
Words: 1674 - Pages: 7
...Choose two of the defenses or syndrome outlined in this chapter and explain why you think they should or should not be accepted as a defenses in criminal law cases. The insanity defense states that you committed the alleged crime, but had no knowledge of the act that were committed at the time was right or wrong. I believe it should be allowed as a defense in criminal law cases, but due to the difficulty in proving beyond the reasonable doubt that the criminal was insane during the commitment of their crimes and the ethical implications of allowing disturbed criminals to avoid imprisonment. But I also agree that individuals should not be punished for criminal acts if they lack certain characteristics that relate to the ability to engage in rational thinking, including wrongfulness and consequences of their actions, or control their behavior. Those psychopathic traits may be inherited, that has set the stage for arguments that even those who commit the worst of crimes should not be held responsible for them. After all, they didn’t choose their genetic makeup or to be born without the capacity for understanding. When it has been successful, the apparent key to the success of these defenses lies in the concrete and observable nature of the abnormality: juries can see the tumor on a brain scan, and may be presented with evidence that the criminal behavior did not occur before the injury or that it stops after treatment. Although, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is stated to be a mental...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...Model Penal Code Difference From Common Law INTENT AND THE CODE 2 Abstract Although there are definitions established within Criminal Culpability, mainly intent, there continues to be discussion over the intended meanings. Specific intent, general intent, transferred intent and strict liability are frequently referenced in the determination of criminal offenses but continue to provide a level of confusion to the law professionals. The intent determines the mindset of the person accused of the crime and provides guidance to the process in which they are punished. These intents are part of the mens rea for the crimes committed and differ from the Model Penal Code. The Model Penal Code has served to simplify the definitions used in the previously mentioned intents. INTENT AND THE CODE 3 There are many differences in the interpretations of Common Law intents and liability. These intents are identified as: specific, general, transferred and strict liability which governs decisions of lawmakers and judges. The complexity in understanding the defined intents and applying them uniformly creates a feeling of disproportionate accountability from members of the public. The Model Penal Code (MPC) changes these intents in common law to four mental states: purposely, knowingly, recklessly and negligently. The “MPC expressly rejects the general notion of strict criminal liability.” (Garland, 2012) There seems...
Words: 972 - Pages: 4
...Criminal Law Evaluation Sharon Smith CJA 354 March 05, 2012 Gary Weil Criminal Law Evaluation Concerning criminal Law here in the United States it revolves around criminal justices system, and there is always a purpose for these laws. Laws are set to protect society. This paper will examine the sources and purpose of criminal law. The purpose of criminal law is to protect and serve the citizens, and criminal law provides punishment and penalties to those who want to break the law. There are laws in place for him or her to abide by. One must understand how laws are enforced; by this there is the jurisdiction, which is the legal authority that enforces laws. Jurisdiction in criminal law is law enforcement has the right to arrest him or her for a crime, which he or she has committed. Jurisdiction has rules that have to be followed. Example of jurisdiction is crossing state lines the movie Blue Streak starting Eddie Murphy. In this movie it showed a good example of jurisdiction, here Eddie Murphy found a diamond and his was in the process of arrested, but cross the United States boarder into Mexico, and the FBI could not touch him because he was in another jurisdiction. To explain more about jurisdiction, unless that officer has been granted authority to arrest him or her from that state he or she is not allowed crossing over to another state. Another example of jurisdiction would be between federal and local. Police officers cannot arrest a person on a military...
Words: 1039 - Pages: 5
...Running head: VICTIMS AND CRIME EVALUATION Victims and Crime Evaluation Paper Victims and Crime Evaluation Paper Experiencing the traumatic events of being victimized is something no one ever wants to experience. A victim is an individual, no matter what title they may hold be it doctor, police officer, parent or child, who has underwent a crime or wrong doing for a specific purpose in which the criminal acts upon. More often than none, victims can be close relatives if designated by the courts in the event the victim is either deceased or debilitated (University of Phoenix, 2011). There was a time way back in the AD 400 era, which was known as the “Golden Age of the victim” when the legal and law enforcement system was not even heard of. Families would take matters into their own hands by retaliating against anyone who victimized a family member or friend. Once they found the perpetrator who committed the act, the family would punish them in a way that society accepted doing that time period. This was the way victimization would be handled from AD 400 up until 1960s, a period that is better known in history as being the “Kings Peace” any wrong that was done against another individual was looked at as a crime against society. This caused society to forget about individual rights and only think about the society and states well being, luckily things would change with law enforcement agencies and a judicial system being developed. The development of these key acquisitions...
Words: 1020 - Pages: 5
...policies and two theories that will be discussed in this paper are the death penalty, three strikes laws and expunging of records, the classical school of criminology and the labeling theory. This paper will discuss rulings by the Supreme Court concerning the “Three Strikes and You’re Out” laws and the death penalty policies. It will review the Eighth Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Criminological Relationships between Theory and Policy Three Strikes and You’re out Law (TSAYO) The Three Strikes Laws are basically laws that order increased sentences for repeat criminals, this increased sentence is given after three felony crimes have been committed by an offender. Most state and federal laws in the United States require harsher punishment for repeat offenders but they are not as severe as the “Three Strikes and You’re Out” (TSAYO) laws. TSAYO was passed into law to help protect society from persons that are dangerous and have exhibited a pattern of criminal behavior, to break it down this law simply takes repeat offenders out of the game by putting them in prison and hopefully deter others from committing the same kinds of criminal acts. According to Justice James A. Ardaiz, "Three Strikes was intended to go beyond simply making sentences tougher. The “Three Strikes and you’re out” law was intended to be a focused effort to create a sentencing policy that would use the judicial...
Words: 2012 - Pages: 9
...Victims and Crime Evaluation Omar Diaz CJA354 March 17, 2015 Mr. Dale Jenereaux Victims and Crime Evaluation Victims of crimes often suffer from various aspects of the criminal acts that were committed against them. The criminal justice system can also contribute to victimization against victims. Lipmann (2010) noted, victims also suffer post crime or secondary victimization. This includes but it not limited to loss of wages, medical expenses, property loss, disability and/or the need to relocate due to safety issues and/or inhabitable living quarters after the crime (Lippman, 2010). Over the year’s inauguration of victim’s rights and victim’s assistance, victims can often relive the horrible experiences that they went through by either having to testify in court or something as simple as nightmares. This is commonly known as pain and suffering. In the adversarial criminal justice system, the prosecution develops a case against the defendant by usually working with the local district attorney’s office. The evidence presented in a case inevitably involves the victim through law enforcement investigations, the identification of the defendant, medical examinations and victim reports. Both the prosecution and the defense have certain obligations to the victim. Each party within the criminal justice system can contribute to victimization. The defense has the responsibility to prove that their client was innocence and did not commit the crime. This can portray that the...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
