Criminal Justice System Paper
CJS/200
12/9/2011
Crime is the direct opposition of the law. Society defines a crime as a felony which is a serious offense usually involving violence and it is punished by imprisonment. A misdemeanor is considered a lesser or minor civil offense. And offense regarded as an act that breaks a rule or a law. ( a sin, an act against morality, nature, or god –(Dictionary.com,LLC,2011). Although the first two descriptions are actionable the last two may not be considered a criminal act, but an immoral act. Our society has established rules that we agree to govern ourselves by one of the assumptions we have about our legal system is that a man is innocent until proven guilty. We define our system by dealing with the identification, correction, and application of the law. Keep in mind that people are to be treated equally and the rights of every person preserved. Our criminal justice system is composed of three main segments that deal with crime.
The police department they identify and investigate when a crime has been committed and they enforce the law. Based upon the evidence, a warrant is obtained and the police arrest the offender and he or she is taken into custody. The bookings consist of the offender getting their picture taken, their personal and physical information is obtained in a database, and an arrest record is created. (Lincoln County Police Department) Evidence is collected (at the scene if possible) and a reenactment of the crime is created to document the offense. (My Mom) This is our society’s front line defense to maintaining public order.
The next phase of our justice system is the courts. Courts are to ensure that every individual’s rights are defended. When evidence are presented, an offender is entitled to a...