Primary Function of the Criminal Justice System

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The Criminal Justice System is comprised of 3 sections, (1) Police or Law enforcement Agencies, (2) Courts, and (3) Corrections. Without all 3 sections working together, the Criminal Justice System would not work. The first person an offender comes into contact with is the police or law enforcement. These are the people who investigate and ultimately make the arrest. The Police and law enforcement agencies main purpose is to keep the streets and the people living on them safe from all types of crime. The second section of the System is the courts. The courts are where disputes are settled and justice is handed down to the guilty. Within the court, one will find the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney. The main purpose of the courts is to decide if an individual is guilty or innocent. This important decision is made by the judge, a panel of judges, or a jury panel, composed of 12 unbiased citizens. The third and final step in the Criminal Justice System is corrections. An offender is usually turned over to the corrections department following the courts. The U.S. uses different forms of corrections, usually depending on the seriousness of the crime. These forms of punishment include monetary restitution, house arrest, probation, community service, prison, or capital punishment. Sometimes there is a mix of punishments. The corrections department’s main purpose is to keep the offender out of the general public so that he or she does not have the opportunity to commit any other crimes. This step is also used to hopefully help to rehabilitate an offender to give them another chance out in the public. Due process, or “Law of the land”, was intended to help the Criminal Justice System and uphold the United States Constitution. Due process says that you are innocent until proven guilty. I believe that it is necessary, but does not

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