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.
One of the responsibilities of a first responding officer is crime scene recognition. The main objective behind crime recognition is to acquire an in depth understanding of the elements that the investigation will involve. Crime scene recognition plays a significant role in determining evidence collection methods. It entails having an insight of the scene using eyes, smell and sound and recording of any relevant material. Defining the degree of the crime scene is one of the most critical steps in recognition of the crime scene (Holden, 2006).
The criminal justice system is made up of a collection of federal, state, and local public agencies that are charged with the top level responsibility of crime control. These agencies process suspects, defendants, and convicted offenders and are interdependent in that the decisions of one agency affect all the other agencies. The criminal justice system consists of three main parts: law enforcement/ police; courts and corrections. These three distinct areas that are made up of many separate agencies, operate together to try to ensure that justice is served. There are two theories of criminal justice that show ways in which the 3 main parts of the system work together.
Criminal Justice Policy Process Amber Pickett AJS/582 February 4, 2013 Joseph Gutheinz Abstract This manuscript will describe the criminal justice policy process. The manuscript will also include the key actors in the criminal justice policy process, the steps involved in the criminal justice policy process, and suggestions to improve the criminal justice policy process. Criminal Justice Policy Process Crime control policies, protocols, standards, and guidelines are the efforts of the government to protect society from criminals by reducing crime through initiating policies to control criminal justice issues. The actors of the criminal justice policy process unite to determine what laws and policies can make society a safe place for everyone (Marion & Oliver, 2012). The criminal justice policy process reflects what is best for society as a whole and not what is best for individuals.
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’’.
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 trail judge has the responsibility for safeguarding both the rights of the accused and the interests of the public in the administration of criminal justice. The prosecutor is responsible for the states cases
Provide an analysis of the dilemmas faced by the criminal justice system in balancing the rights of victims with those of offenders. The continuing dilemma of balancing the rights of victims against those of offenders is vast. There are several considerations that reveal issues faced by the criminal justice system in this balancing act. Victim impact statements are an important document in the criminal justice system as they allow for victims of crime to tell their story within court (Commissioner for Victim’s Rights 2015). Erez, Roeger & Morgan (1994) discuss the importance of victim input inside the justice system.
Court History and Purpose Michele A Anderson CJA/224 June 8, 2012 Austin Zimmer Court History and Purpose The American justice system is a complex system that serves a purpose of administering justice and all other legal matters. This paper will examine the court system and its purpose. This paper will describe the dual court system and how it pertains to our justice system. This paper will also examine the role of the early legal codes, common law, and the precedent they played in the development of the court systems. This paper will identify the role of the courts in the criminal justice system today.
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.