173 Reflective Journal. Week 1: Aims of the criminal Justice system This week was essentially an introductory topic and provided me with a basic understanding of the aims and operations of the criminal justice system. I learned that there is a number of different steps within the criminal justice system and the involvement of all the parties involved such as police, judge and jury and the defence. According to John Champion the main purpose of the criminal justice system is to process and prosecute individuals who commit crimes against society and to deal out suitable punishments for these individuals. This is a pivotal part in terms of maintain the functioning of society and to ensure that people don’t go around breaking laws wherever and whenever they want.
Police are tasked with seeking out and locating individuals within a community who have committed a crime. They then cite or arrest that person based on probable cause that a violation of the law has been committed. Depending on the crime the police officer well have to write a report listing the facts on how the violator met all the elements of the crime. The report is then submitted to the district attorney’s office for review and prosecution. The officer may be called into court later to testify to the facts of the case.
These individuals are given the task of how to move the trial along and what types of sentences should be asked to the judge after the trial has taken place. There are several methods that prosecutors should employ to deal with crimes. One of these methods could be implementing diversion programs for criminals. Again, by placing such a program on the books this would put society more in charge of what is happening to criminals in their communities. Misconduct of Court Room Players In the courtroom, just as outside of the courtroom, there are always times in which misconduct of a courtroom player takes place.
FSIs then start to work with the investigating officers. The FSI will find out what evidence they need to help the investigation. What you need to know before entering a crime scene. Initial responding officers are the individuals most susceptible to dangers within a crime scene. They are required to verify the nature of the incident, secure the crime scene, locate victim and/or
He or she is responsible for ensuring the court proceedings are legal, and that the defendant receives his or her rights to due process of law. The judge does this by setting the rules of the courtroom and acting as a referee between opposing council. Although a judges’ most visible role is during a criminal or civil trial, he or she has many responsibilities. Prior to any court hearing, the judge is responsible for signing search and arrest warrants. Judges also deal with the issue of bail once established that there is enough evidence to hold a criminal trial against the defendant during the preliminary hearing.
The role of a prosecuting attorney is to review all evidence against a person or party and build a case against the person(s). A prosecutor is typically in charge of bringing criminal charges against a person(s) and presenting their evidence to a court to assure a conviction. They work directly for the district attorneys office of a jurisdiction and are responsible for presenting the state’s case against the defendant. The prosecuting attorney is the primary representative of the people by virtue of the belief that violations of the criminal law are an affront to the public. The prosecutor pairs up with the law enforcement officers that are gathering the evidence and then they see if they have enough evidence to continue with the case.
Indictable offences are the more serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, sexual assault, drug trafficking and arson. These offences are tried by a judge and jury in District or Supreme Courts. A preliminary (committal) hearing is held in Local Court before a magistrate to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a ‘prima facie’ case. The prosecution is required to produce evidence and witnesses. The process of criminal prosecution begins when a person (usually a police officer) lays information before a court or a justice of the peace.
Each state is divided into districts that have district attorneys that head the district judicial system. Their job is to prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and therefore makes their role the first one in the courtroom participants (Grant, 2003). The judge is second in line of the court participants and presides over the trial from a desk which is usually an elevated platform which is called the bench. The judge has five basic tasks, the first is to maintain order and to preside over the court proceedings. The second task is to determine if the evidence presented by the defense is legal and proper.
Crime Control Model Comprehensive Exam Whitney Polen CJ 602: Comprehensive Examination Kaplan University July 31, 2014 Dr. Patricia Drown Introduction Crime control and due process, how do these two complement one another, where are the differences, and how do they work in the criminal justice program? The way that crime control and due process differ is that crime control, in certain circumstances, allows law enforcement to be manipulative and deceptive. It is legal for officers to trick offenders by different ruses to get the offender to the station to be questioned. Law enforcement can use varying tactics to arrested, or applying some physical or mental pressure during situation when questioning and trying to enforce calm. Officers can even deceive suspects while being interrogated.
It is their duties to ensure public safety and maintain order. Secondly, are the Courts, which sentences criminals based on evidence gathered by the Police and Lawyers. Thirdly, are Correctional Institutions, which detains or rehabilitates criminals. The graphic illustration below outlines the Criminal Justice System and its key components: Police The first component is the police, which serve as the gate keepers for the Criminal Justice System. The term police originated from the “Latin word politia” which means civil administrations’’.