Outlining Criminal Justice System

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Outlining the Criminal Justice System In order to understand the criminal justice system of the United States it is imperative to first understand what crime is. Simply put a crime is the violation of a rule or law put in place by a governing body (Schmalleger, 2009). This is a broad definition that allows for variation in what is considered a crime all across the United States. Despite the varying types of crimes the elements of the criminal justice system are constant. The criminal justice system is composed of three parts: law enforcement, courts of law, and corrections (Schmalleger, 2009). These segments all work in conjunction with each other to provide a lawful culture.…show more content…
21). Once the sentence is imposed the next step of the criminal justice process is the correctional portion. The correctional phase is composed of several parts. Since not all sentences require incarceration a person can be put on probation for a period of time. A probation officer will ensure that the offender meets the conditions set by the court. Failure to meet the conditions will result in the withdrawal of probation, and the offender will like face imprisonment. A person can be sentenced to prison or jail instead of probation based on the crime. The severity and type of the crime governs the facility an individual will serve out his or her sentence (Schmalleger, 2009). The goal is to punish or rehabilitate an individual while ensuring the safety of the general public. Offenders who have served a portion of their imprisonment can be freed and placed on parole. An officer will also supervise an individual on parole and failure to comply with conditions of parole will result in a return to prison (Schmalleger,

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