A Broken System

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A Broken System?Johnny AmanThe Criminal Justice System/CRJ 506308-28-13 Dr. Fitzgerald AbstractThe criminal justice system has multiple parts which work independently of each other. The question is do they work together while accomplishing their own goals or do their goals conflict with one another. One cog of the criminal justice system is the politicians whose relation to criminal justice is making the laws. A second important factor of the criminal justice system in the prisons which house the inmates. Prosecutors discretion plays its part in the criminal justice system; another form of discretion but separate part is police discretion. The last important impact on the system is the officers who start the enforcement of the criminal justice system. So at what cost does all of this have on the system? A Broken System?Many critics of the American Criminal Justice system says that the system is broken. Recidivism rates are high and 2.2 million Americans are incarcerated. A number far greater than any other country in the world. With Texas leading the charge, the United States follows only the People's Republic of China in executions. Minorities are more likely to be incarcerated than whites. This system adds up to creates a $44 billion dollar industry. Critics declare this system broken. Calling that a broken system would entail that the goals of the system are not being met, which can be argued is not the reality. Politicians have goals of being elected which entire campaigns can revolve around tough on crime stances. Private companies have taken over housing several state prisons and an increasing number of federal detention centers. Prosecutors who have the right to pick and choose what cases to take to trial. Even more discretion is apparent in the enforcement of laws on the street. So does all of these parts create a broken system? Politicians,

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