Criminal Justice System
Jessica T. Calvin
CJA/204
April 06, 2015
Steve Kurrle
Criminal Justice System
The rules and regulations in relation to crimes will vary from state to state. The moment an individual carries out an act that breaks a law, a crime is committed. A crime is a crime no matter the extent from minor speeding trafficking to breaking and entering. Regardless the crime one commits there will be a price to pay. The Criminal Justice System is the ideological institution responsible for the protection, preservation of, and adherence to the civil rights and civil liberties expressed within the Constitution of the United States (Criminal Justice, 2015). The agencies of the Criminal Justice System are there to control crimes and penalize violators. Each system has its own set of rules depending on which area, or jurisdiction. Jurisdictions are broken down by states, cities, counties, federal, and the military. Due process and crime control are the two most common models that will determine which acts are criminal. Crime control is the main focus as well as punishing those committing the crimes. The Constitution uses the phrase in the 5th and 14th Amendments, declaring that the government shall not deprive anyone of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..." (America Government, 2014). Both models serve as a balance. Yes the juvenile was finally apprehended three hours later, but were his or her rights protected during interrogation. Innocent until proven guilty. In the Criminal Justice System interaction activity police, courts, and correction are the three components that play key roles. Law enforcement is the first to be notified for various crimes committed within an area. Other duties of the police are to enforce laws, maintain order, provide community protection, apprehend offenders, and investigate crimes. The moment a person is arrested they will enter the court system. The courts are run by decision makers of attorneys, jurors, and judges. It is here that the court system upholds laws, and decides who’s guilty or innocent in a criminal case after analyzing all information. For instance, Joe matches the description of a young man who just broke into Stop Hop gas station. Law enforcement arrests the young man. The court system will review evidence, reports, and background information of the suspect. . From there the courts will release the suspect or if found guilty , the court system will receive a sentence and he is turned over to the next component. The last component of the Criminal Justice System is corrections. Corrections is housing for the individuals that are found guilty in the court of law. Various forms of correction include jails, prisons, correctional facilities or penitentiary. These correction agencies responsibilities are to manage offenders in custody while serving a sentence. Correction agencies are to assist in rehabilitating offenders by helping them become law-abiding citizens before releasing back into society. There are cases where the court system will place an offender in corrections because he or she cannot function properly in society and is seen as a danger. Each component of the Criminal Justice System creates works together creating a process. This process is divided into five agencies; investigation and arrest, pretrial activities, trial, sentencing, and corrections. (University of Phoenix, 2011) The first step starts when someone files a report, an investigation is next, and following is the issuing of a warrant an arrest is made, or issue a citation with a date to appear in court before a judge. The second are the pretrial activities, which consist of four sections; first appearance, preliminary hearing, indictment, then arraignment. During the first 48 hours of an arrest the suspect will appear in court. He or she is then told reasoning for arrest. The judge will determine if there is enough evidence for an indictment, if not the suspect is
