Premium Essay

Criminal Justice System Essay

Submitted By
Words 872
Pages 4
The justice system is made to be fair and equal to all. The united states is based in principals of freedom equality. Are these facts and morals actually true within our own system of justice? Endless amounts of data, stats and news coverage tells a different story. While our legal system is designed to be blind, the reality shows that the system benefits those of a higher class. There is also evidence that supports the fact that the system discriminates based off race and gender. First off, the obvious case of the system benefiting those of a higher class is the implementation of bail. Bail is the release if a accused person while they await trail on the payment of a sum of money. This allows people with money to avoid ever going to prison and fall into the detrimental cycle that comes along with it. In this case, simply having money puts people at a major advantage, allowing them to avoid prison and prepare for their trial while poor people must go and sit …show more content…
These people pose no threat to public safety and should be sentenced to treatment instead of the government spending money to keep them in prison. A sentence based off a small amount of marijuana is ridiculous, what harm was this person doing to belong in jail? Yes, they should be punished but jailtime for such a small innocent act is horrible. Prison breeds more crime, “The Bureau of Justice Statistics' report on state prisoners in 2014 found that 68% of state prisoners were re-arrested fewer than three years after their release and 77% were re-arrested within five.” People in poorer communities are more likely to grow up around and fall into a life with drugs. These people are then targeted by the legal system and instead of reaching out a helping hand the system makes their lives harder. Perpetually trapping the low class in a system of hardships that is extremely hard to

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Electronics In The Criminal Justice System Essay

...Many years after its development, electronic monitoring, has led to a numerous amount of enhancements within the criminal justice system. Particularly within law enforcement and justice systems, this technology has become a growing, supplemental tool. Historically, the use of electronics in the justice system has helped in creating alternative arrangements for sentencing offenders. In the 1960’s Harvard Psychologist, Robert Schwitzgebel, wanted to establish a more cost-effective alternative to incarceration of people within the justice system. Dr. Schwitzgebel established a transmitter that produced signals, those signals were then sent to a receiver they were then processed and received within a certain range. Although the device existed in the 60’s, it was not until the 80’s when the device was implemented. Since then a lot has changed with technology and the courts. More than ever, there has been a need to lessen prison populations. Today, Intermediate sanctions have been popular in attempting to help reduce overcrowded facilities. House arrest, electronic monitoring, and many other sanctions have become more popular methods over jail or prison sentences. Giving offenders these intermediate sanctions can give them options for treatment and offer services to help them....

Words: 426 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Discretion In The Criminal Justice System Essay

...race and social status influenced the final decision making (death sentence). According to the article black individuals are twice as likely to be put to death than white individuals. If the black defendant was convicted of killing a white individual, he/she is 4 times more likely to get the death sentence as compared white defendant killing a black person. These circumstances are proofs that expose the capital punishment as unconstitutional. Q2. Discretion in Criminal Justice System is fundamentally a processes that takes place from the point the law enforcer arrests a “criminal” to the point where the final decision as to what to do with this “criminal” is made. This is very important in the criminal justice system because it is through or based on this discretion that a sentence is carried out. Part of this discretion is picking who's going to end on the jury for whatever the case is. Unfortunately these...

Words: 505 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Criminal Justice Trends

...Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation The following essay will discuss the past, present, and future trends connecting societies and the components of the criminal justice system, and reveal how influential these trends can be to the surrounding society. The opinions of this essay will involve an assessment of recent trends, future trends, and contemporary issues affecting the criminal justice system, which will be identified and evaluated. The main point of this essay is to prove that the criminal justice system has a value in a high-speed, ever-so-changing, technology driven society. Past, Present, and Future Trends The past, present, and future trends that form the boundaries between the components of the criminal justice system and their connections surrounding the community is truly a genuine relationship formed by the law and society. Trends, whether past, present, or future have an effect on the criminal justice system because trends much like fads change quickly, and the criminal justice system must succeed and put every effort into keeping up with these trends and the innovative crimes that are created. If one were asked to describe and explain the connections that involve the criminal justice system and crime trends, it would be a difficult task because crime does not have consistent trends or patterns, which can result in one thinking it is a crime trend because these trends can begin and end in an instant (Rosenfeld & Goldberger...

Words: 1581 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Components of the Criminal Justice System

...of the criminal justice system? How do the components impact the overall process of the criminal justice system? What changes would you recommend to better improve the criminal justice process? Explain. The three components of the criminal justice system are the police, correctional agencies, and criminal courts. The Police are the first step in the judicial system. They are the first responders to any crime scene which goes into the investigation process. The investigation process will then lead to possible arrests; the criminal is then booked and processed. They are given a court date and from that point the case is in the criminal courts domain. Once a suspect is given a court date the Criminal Courts then conduct a fair and impartial trial. The criminal courts are there to protect the rights of anyone facing processing by the justice system. The suspect is then found guilty or not guilty. If the defendant is found guilty they are then transferred from the county jail, where they were being held, to a state prison or correctional facility. The Correctional Agencies are the final step in the criminal justice system. Sometimes this is the end of the road for some offenders and other times appeals are filed and it will go back to the court system. Correctional facilities have different levels: minimum security and maximum security. The severity of the crime will determine which one of the facilities the criminal will end up in. The changes I would make to the system are the...

Words: 368 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Evaluation Model Essay

...Evaluation Model Essay Kevin Jackson CJA/385 April 06, 2016 Professor: Lois Fegan Evaluation Model Essay In this essay, I will select an evaluation model that I believe is most applicability and relevance to criminal justice policy today. I will also summarize the model that I have chosen and provided analysis and explanation for my choice. The two models of the criminal justice system are created by a professor named Herbert L. Packer in 1964 at Sanford University, and these two models are "Crime Control Model" and the "Due Process Model." To understand and comprehend what these two models processes are that Professor Parker created for the criminal justice system, we must first define their meaning. Crime Control Model- Refer to a theory of criminal justice which places emphasis on reducing the offense in society through increased police and prosecutorial powers (Us Legal 2016). Due Process Model- Is a type of justice system which based on the principle that a citizen has some absolute rights and cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards (Us Legal 2016). Summary The crime control model believes that to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens in society, the best course of action would be to expand both the police and prosecutors department in law enforcement. This model belief that stricter, harsher, punishment will ultimately reduce crime. Here...

Words: 1165 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cesare Beccaria's Essay On Crime And Punishment

...Cesare Beccaria’s essay “An Essay on Crimes and Punishments” was about the great need that existed for changes in the criminal justice system, even back in 1764 when it was published. His thoughts and opinions inspired others, which then inspired changes in the government such as “prison reform, for the termination of the death penalty in many European nations, and even for more humane means of execution in those nations that retained it.” (Halfond, 2016, p. 2). He wanted to ensure the rights of criminals and citizens alike were protected and to stop the severity of punishments. His ideas influenced the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as the abolition of the death penalty in some states. Cesare Beccaria is known as the father...

Words: 525 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ethics

...Examining the criminal justice system reveals that minorities are over-represented, primarily because of racial prejudices within the system. The well-publicized war on drugs is one of the main causes for this over-representation, for it has primarily targeted poor people of color. As Walker et al (2003) note, despite repeated studies showing there is little difference in the level of drug use between blacks and whites in the United States, three-quarters of the people incarcerated in American prisons for drug trafficking, dealing, or abuse are African-American. In social terms, one of the most troubling problems with America’s war on drugs is that it appears to be motivated at least in part by racism. As Mason (2000) notes, under New Jersey’s Operation Pipeline drug interdiction program, for example, eighty percent of the motorists stopped by police were black and just thirteen percent were white. Sentencing laws also appear to be racist, for they punish minorities more. Getting caught with four-hundred grams of cocaine requires no mandatory prison term, but possessing four-hundred grams of crack can lead to life in prison. One of the most blatant demonstrations of prejudice in the criminal justice system is racial profiling. According to critics, racial profiling is a unfair law enforcement strategy that enables police officers to stop and question African-Americans simply because of their race. According to Malley (2000) racial profiling is a process...

Words: 355 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Why Is Restorative Justice Possible On A Federal Level

...The criminal justice system gets a lot of attention because safety issues for the public is made very apparent. The economy, our democracy and the freedom of the nation highly depends upon our criminal justice system remaining fair and accessible. A basic foundation is created and persevered, but it is up to the workers to know how the system improves over the years and how to best put actions into practice. The purpose of this essay is to determine if restorative justice is possible on a federal level, and if restorative justice is reasonable at the local level. Restorative Justice on a Federal Level Restorative justice often requires and involves having a direct line of communication with victims, facilitators, and subjects of a crime....

Words: 500 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Administrator Challenges Essay

...Administrator Challenges essay Kevin Jackson CJA/454 March 16, 2016 Professor: Charles Davis Administrator Challenges essay In this essay, I will discuss the functional role of the criminal justice administration in the police department. I will also describe what I consider being the major issues and satisfactions of that particular role. Finally, I will discuss if this course helped prepare me? If not, what might improve the course? To understand and comprehend what a criminal justice administrator job functions are we must first define these two words Criminal Justice, Administrator of Criminal Justice and Police Administrator. Criminal Justice – Is the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all stages of a criminal proceeding and punishment (Dictionary.Reference 2016). Administrator of Criminal Justice – Is defined as the performance of activities such as detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision or rehabilitation of accused person or criminal offenders or the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal history record information (Us. Legal 2016). Police Administrator – Is defined as the process, art, and science of the management, supervision and ethical leadership of a police agency (Us. Legal 2016). In today's world of policing the role of criminal justice, police administrator is a very complex and challenging job...

Words: 1196 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Administrator Challenges Essay

...Administrator Challenges essay Kevin Jackson CJA/454 March 16, 2016 Professor: Charles Davis Administrator Challenges essay In this essay, I will discuss the functional role of the criminal justice administration in the police department. I will also describe what I consider being the major issues and satisfactions of that particular role. Finally, I will discuss if this course helped prepare me? If not, what might improve the course? To understand and comprehend what a criminal justice administrator job functions are we must first define these two words Criminal Justice, Administrator of Criminal Justice and Police Administrator. Criminal Justice – Is the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all stages of a criminal proceeding and punishment (Dictionary.Reference 2016). Administrator of Criminal Justice – Is defined as the performance of activities such as detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision or rehabilitation of accused person or criminal offenders or the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal history record information (Us. Legal 2016). Police Administrator – Is defined as the process, art, and science of the management, supervision and ethical leadership of a police agency (Us. Legal 2016). In today's world of policing the role of criminal justice, police administrator is a very complex and challenging job...

Words: 1196 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Research Process and Terminology Paper

...preforming in the field of criminal justice and because of this it was important to learn how to do a good job at researching. Research has many layers and it is imperative that one knows the proper language to use and the correct process to go about when conducting criminal justice research. This paper will be exampling just how important it has been to gather a better understanding of the terms and process of research throughout this first week of class. The first subject will be a breakdown of new terminology found in this week’s readings. The paper will then take the time to explain and give examples of how the new terminology will be able to be applied to a career in criminal justice. Lastly the paper will take the time to express the problems that can arise from not knowing the terminology as well as the benefits of knowing these terms when it comes to researching. The goal of the essay is to give a greater understanding of important subjects throughout week ones reading and overall how the new terminology studied can help in a career for criminal justice. New Terminology and How it Applies to Criminal Justice Throughout this first weeks of reading there has been many new words that needed to be learned, however as in anything there are a few terms that stood out as more important than others. Many of the terms that will be discussed through this essay are also highlighted as objectives for the week. Some of the most important terms that this essay will go over are: qualitative...

Words: 1175 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Female Offenders and Their Experience of Criminal Justice

...and their experience of criminal justice Before I choose to reply to this exact question of my essay questions I googled “Female offenders”, and I am honestly going to admit that as soon as I saw the search results I knew this is what I want to write about. The reason for this is because the first five articles that came up were not just about female offenders, they were all about black female offenders. You see, I think this is a pretty clear picture of the face that our stereotype criminal is black, either it is a woman or a man. In this essay I will look at how women experience criminal justice today, and despite the fact that google is trying to make it look like all offenders are black, I will include all nationalities. And then I will discuss what can and what needs to be changed for the criminal system to be better and more functional. A particular issue that I am going to have a further look at is if and possibly why women from suburban societies are treated differently in criminal settings than women from lower social rankings, e.g. homeless or prostitutes. The biggest question right now is, how does the justice system treat females? Obviously they are treated different than men because males are considered to stand more and to be built completely different physical and psychological, not to come across as a feminist or something even though that is pretty difficult in this case, but is that a fair game? I am aware that my task in this essay is to discuss what further...

Words: 529 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

The Concept of Power

...Power, however, is not something that should necessarily be looked at negatively. There are justifiable types of power that may be important to criminal justice organizations. The main role of power in criminal justice administration should be to gain compliance from subordinates of all types, and turn that power over time into acceptable forms of authority (Stojkovic et al., 2008). It is for this reason that power is an important attribute in criminal justice agencies. It is important as a criminal justice manager, and agency as a whole, to have legitimate power. Power that is not coercive and works for the good of the organization is beneficial in gathering information, resources, and compliance. Legitimate, expert, and referent power can be effective in the attainment of goals (Stojkovic et al., 2008). Legitimate power operates on the assumption that those in traditional authority positions are the power holder and wield their authority over the power recipient because their internalized norms justify the amount of compliance needed (Stojkovic et al., 2008). Legitimate power is most useful within criminal justice agencies because it takes into account the culture, and social structure, and operates within a hierarchy to promote successful delegation of duties. While political power does have some benefits within a criminal justice agency, it is easily corruptible and leads one to believe legitimate power should be internally focused for a successful organization. There...

Words: 1161 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Procedural Justice: Cruel Or Harmful Victim?

...punishment. Recent research has suggested that this is no longer the most desired outcome the victim wishes to achieve, with procedural justice being the most important aspect of the victims Criminal Justice process. Procedural Justice suggests that both parties (the victim and the offender) are to be treated fairly and consistently. Murphy and Barkworth (2014) have portrayed procedural justice by the following main ideas; Respect, Trustworthiness and Voice, with other researchers such as Miller and...

Words: 1933 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Due Process

...Due Process And Crime Control Models Criminology Essay ukessays.com /essays/criminology/due-process-and-crime-control-models-criminology-essay.php Due Process The basis of the due process model is formal structure. When used correctly, the due process model protects the rights of suspects accused of various crimes. The due process model reduces many errors that occur during the investigation, arrest, evidence gathering, and trial. Due process does not support much of the evidence that is used in many criminal trials, and there are many reasons and factors for this. Basically, the due process model criticizes every type of evidence except definitive physical evidence that cannot be disputed. The object of looking at evidence in the due process model is deciding what information may be incorrect, falsified, or coerced from an individual. This has occurred on many occasions when other criminals have testified against the suspect, because they may be rewarded with time off of their sentence or other things. Because the main goal of the due process model us to reduce mistakes that can place an innocent person in prison, the process is very slow (Henham, 1998 & Klein, 2006). Crime Control The idea of the crime control model is to decrease crime in all areas; for this to be done criminal conduct needs to be drastically reduced. Many of the problems that arise in the crime control model is directed at law enforcement officials. People commit crimes and get away with them...

Words: 1397 - Pages: 6