...Unit 12: Crime and its Effects on Society Unit code: Y/600/6030 QCF Level 3: BTEC National Credit value: 10 Guided learning hours: 60 Aim and purpose The aim of this unit is to give learners a knowledge of current UK crime and disorder legislation and the sentences and orders available to the criminal justice agencies. Learners will also develop knowledge of the effects of criminal behaviour on communities and an understanding of how society works to reduce crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour and to support the victims and witnesses of crime. Unit introduction This unit introduces learners to the legal framework that exists to prevent crime and deal with offenders. They will look at the powers of the courts, including the orders and sentences that the courts can impose. They will look at the theories of the causes of criminal behaviour and other contributory factors that may lead to criminality and antisocial behaviour, for example socio-economic and environmental influences, lack of education and negative family influences. Learners will explore the problems resulting from criminal activity and antisocial behaviour. They will explore the costs of crime, to local authorities, the community and individuals. Learners will also investigate the ‘fear of crime’ and how this manifests itself in both individuals and communities and the impact this can have on quality of life. Learners will learn how their local police proactively tackle crime using problem-solving models...
Words: 4200 - Pages: 17
...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
...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...
Words: 1646 - Pages: 7
...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation University of Phoenix Contemporary Issues and Future in Criminal Justice People in society continuously change therefore people continue to evolve as our perceptions change. In this paper the student will assess the past, present, and future trends in the interface between elements of the criminal justice system. In the assessment the student will evaluate the criminal justice connections with surrounding society. The student will identify the recent and future trends affecting the criminal justice system. Last, the contemporary issues and the value of the criminal justice system in a changing society. Interface between Components The American Justice in the 1800s was quite different in the aspect of how the laws have changed. In the 1800s there were not enough law enforcement officers to enforce the laws. Therefore, many people believed it necessary to take the law into his or her own hands. An example of vigilante justice in the 1800s was the lynching of Henry Smith. This is a sad example of how people were treated; in 1893 Henry Smith was tortured and burned alive in front of a crowd of 10,000 people. People were executed for crimes not committed and trials were not an option (Keene, 2012). In the 18th century B.C.E. the first know death penalty was in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon. A person could have 25 crimes before the sanction of the state for the death penalty. Capital punishment in the 18th century...
Words: 1530 - Pages: 7
...Reflecting on the methodological, theoretical and political issues discussed in Block 3, evaluate the reliability and validity of this account. You should use your conclusion to explain why you agree or disagree with Fraser’s position. Introduction The notion that the prison institution has failed as an establishment has been gradually gaining some popularity in consideration of the recent times, especially in this ‘postmodern’ era, where society is becoming more open to the discourse and discussion of the deconstruction of our many traditional and long established components of civilization, such as our typical ‘correctional’ establishments, or prison facilities (Davis 2000). In fact, there is already what is commonly referred to as the ‘prison abolition movement’ which is a collective, but not necessarily organized, worldview that is inclined to subscribe to the belief that a society can function better without prisons, and without prisoners thus. This position is backed up by a comprehensive set of criticisms against the modern form or structure of the criminal justice mechanism, which is argued to be predominantly predisposed allow racism (Davis 2007), sexism and reinforcement of the disadvantages of being part of the lower economic class of the society. More importantly, the anti-prison discourse argues that the prison system is an ineffective and costly means of preventing crime and rehabilitating the criminals, and thus goes to advocate alternative forms of Penalty...
Words: 2273 - Pages: 10
...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation John Doe CJA/394 January 21, 2012 Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation There is no discrepancy that crime has continued to hinder society. It was at the urging of the Social Commission that the actual number of crimes became a priority so that facts and statistics could be developed. These first statistics were recorded and began nearly sixty years ago. The results show a continuous increase in crime. When the first studies were conducted the crime trends included larceny, physical assaults, and homicide. As time progressed, the studies broadened to include organized crime from street gangs to mafia’s, and trafficking of illegal drugs as well as humans. The only significant difference from the crime of the past and criminal elements society contends with today is that the illegal activity of organized crime groups is not as blatantly obvious as it once was (Economic and Social Council, 2011). The following information will discuss crime trends and the impact they have within the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system is an intricate part of society and it is essential that this system remains capable of adequately dealing with the latest crime trends. One large difference between yesteryears crimes and today’s are the involvements of human lives and the World Wide Web. The trafficking of people from all age groups from city to city and even between countries has become easier with the utilization of the internet. Robberies...
Words: 1411 - Pages: 6
...Criminal Justice Trends Paper Dwight Blackshire September 9, 2013 CJA/484 Mr. James Herring Criminal Justice Trends Paper New philosophies to aid in the future progress of corrections are being developed as a result of past and current trends. The issues and concerns surrounding the corrections component of the criminal justice system are overcrowded prisons and their decreasing budget. If these issues and concerns are not address, they will continue to affect the effectiveness and future operations of corrections. Restorative and community justice programs are options being considered for the future of corrections as administrators, legislators, and activists debate philosophies to address these issues and concerns resulting from past and current trends. In the past, the national political climate favored the “get tough” approach against crime. It was believed that treatment programs could not reduce recidivism. Furthermore, it was also believed to keep the national crime rate low and protect the public, offenders of crime must be punished to deter crime. As a result, reforms such as truth-in-sentencing and three-strike legislation were implemented into the law. These...
Words: 1573 - Pages: 7
...Criminal Justice Trends evaluation Marion Wade CJA/394 Criminal Justice Trends evaluation It is important for us to understand past, current, and future trends throughout the criminal justice system. Trends allow us to identify areas that need to be addressed so we may be equipped to handle them better. Society depends of the criminal justice system in many ways to offer them a sense of justice, safety, and peace of mind. Within this paper I will discuss past, current, and future trends and how it affects and changes our criminal justice system. I will also address recent and future trends and contemporary issues that affect the criminal justice system, as well as the values of the criminal justice system in a changing society. Past Trends Even though to most it may not seem like it, the criminal justice system has come a long way in its dealings with the public. In the past the criminal justice system was viewed as a faceless machine that acted independently of the areas it charged to look after. It seemed that it was better to stay detached from the public in order to remain biased in their judgment and to keep their professional appearance. By studying past trends we not only were able to see trends in criminal behavior as well as having the ability to try and create possible projections on why it could lead but, we were also able to view the interaction between the criminal justice system and those it served. Both the criminal justice system and the general public...
Words: 1723 - Pages: 7
...| [pic] |College of Criminal Justice and Security | | |CJA/204 Version 2 | | |Introduction to Criminal Justice | Copyright © 2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course is an introductory overview of the organization and jurisdictions of local, state, and federal law enforcement, judicial and corrections agencies, and processes involved in the criminal justice systems. It examines the historical aspects of the police, the courts, and the correctional system, as well as the philosophy. Additionally, career opportunities and qualifying requirements, terminology and constitutional limitations of the system will also be covered. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending...
Words: 3730 - Pages: 15
...Court Issues Analysis University of Phoenix Miguel A. Gomez III CJ/394 – Criminal Organizations SC11BCJ06 February 13th, 2013 Carl Heintz, MBA United States Courts In today’s society change is more prevalent than ever. The courts system in the United States has also changed over the course of history. As society gets larger and current laws and regulations become outdated, the courts must re-evaluate their past and current issues in preparation of the future. Currently, issues such as tougher gun laws and juveniles being tried as adults are some examples of what the courts face, along with a vast variety of other important issues. Briefly, this report will examine current and future issues as they revolve around the courts system of the United States and court administrators. This report will examine the following issues: juvenile tried as adults and tough gun reforms. Historically, the United States of America has become the destination spot for many immigrants seeking the “American Dream.” With many different languages being spoken, the courts must provide a means of language interpretation. In regards to language interpretation services, this report will underline future management issues and trends as they relate to the courts. In the past victim’s rights were non-existent; victims and their families were not allowed to obtain any information regarding court proceedings, let alone be present in the courtroom. Victims did not receive any assistance until the mid...
Words: 1487 - Pages: 6
...Ethical Issues Research Paper Sherrill Jones AJS/532 Cristina Payne August 3, 2015 Ethical Issues Research Paper In the field of criminal justice, ethics is an integral part of the organization. The public relies on its police agencies to provide protection and maintain order in the community. It is also about a matter of trust the community places with its law enforcement agencies with regards to ethical behavior. This research paper will analyze the contemporary issues involving ethical behavior by criminal justice personnel, the decisions that govern its ethics, and recommendations. Contemporary Issues Laws and expectations change with each passing year; decisions vary with the times and public opinion. The stated goal for all is fairness combined with efficiency within the private and criminal justice systems. Justice should be obtained with equal actions regarding the constitutional rights that are afforded to all citizens including previously convicted offenders and the issue of public safety. The main concern is fairness, efficiency and just plain effectiveness. It becomes an issue when one tries to determine how effective these policies are and how much trust can be found within these findings due to personal bias and effectiveness of the figures presented. The setting up of the measurement system and how much weight this system carries for performance expectations is critical. The problem of what changes should or can be made to resolve the...
Words: 2541 - Pages: 11
...Court Issues Analysis “The primary function of American criminal courts is to determine the legal guilt of the accused—that is, to determine if a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing a crime”, they essentially take over where police left off (Robinson, 2009). Although there is more to the court system other than finding individuals innocent or guilty much, the courts are also responsible for establishing bail, operating preliminary hearings, ruling on the admissibility of evidence, and determining the proper sentence when a guilty verdict has been obtained. Though they perform many functions for the criminal justice system, there are many issues still facing the courts today. This analysis will discuss in detail, the current and future issues encountering courts and court administrators today. Also future management issues and trends concerning language interpretations services will be discussed, in addition to assessing the past, present, and future impact the victims’ rights laws have on court proceedings. There are several current and future disputes facing courts and court administrators today. One major factor that some may hold opposing views would be the use of plea bargaining in our court system. “Shockingly, more than 90% of felony cases in the United States in any given year are disposed of via plea bargaining” (Robinson, 2009). Criminal trials are responsible for determining the innocence or guilt of those in question, whereas plea bargaining...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...more often than retributive justice? Restorative justice is a concept that is not fully accepted in the field of criminology. The theory presents an alternative way of reviewing criminal justice procedures. The main issues are repairing the harm done, and building relationships between the victim and offenders, rather than strict punishment of the offender. Restorative justice is an excellent concept. However, it is an substitute process which the criminal justice has at its disposal. The premise for retributive justice is the punishment of the offender, resultig in jail and/or imprisonment. There is no consideration given to repairing the harm caused by offender...
Words: 1087 - Pages: 5
...The United Nations and Their Current Role in International Law Our stability as a western nation is often taken for granted as we have become accustom to freedoms. Unfortunately these freedoms are not prevalent in all areas of the world. The United Nations strives to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations as each strives to create a more peaceful and prosperous world. The concept of the United Nations if not the first of our time, the League of Nations was created post World War One to try and prevent another catastrophic conflict. As we all know the League failed and the ensuing massacre of World War Two warranted a stronger and more comprehensive intergovernmental organization. This would lead to the creation of the United Nations. Though the UN has stood the test of time it does have its critics who question the effectiveness of the organizations ability to respond swiftly or appropriately to global crises. From the perspective of international law the United Nations works to create new laws and agreements in counties addressing issues in a global context; i.e. terrorism, nuclear weapons, boarder disputes etc. The UN also facilitates the International Court of Justice which aims to solve disputes between nations. The International Criminal court is another international court system that aims to hold individuals who commit war crimes or other significant international crimes responsible for their actions. The United Nations, International Court...
Words: 1852 - Pages: 8
...Court Issues Analysis “The primary function of American criminal courts is to determine the legal guilt of the accused—that is, to determine if a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing a crime”, they essentially take over where police left off (Robinson, 2009). Though courts do much more than find people innocent or guilty, they also are “responsible for determining bail, conducting preliminary hearings (or grand juries), ruling on the admissibility of evidence, and determining the appropriate sentence when a finding of guilty has been reached” (Robinson, 2009). Though they perform many functions for the criminal justice system, there are many issues still facing the courts today. In this paper I will be identifying the current and future issues facing courts and court administrators today. I will also be discussing future management issues and trends regarding language interpretations services, as well as assessing the past, present, and future impact the victims’ rights laws have on court proceedings. There are many current and future issues facing courts and court administrators today. One problem that some may beg to differ would be the use of plea bargaining in our court system. “Shockingly, more than 90% of felony cases in the United States in any given year are disposed of via plea bargaining” (Robinson, 2009). Criminal trials are a way of determining the innocence or guilt of those in question, whereas plea bargaining is where the accused plead...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5