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Criminal Courts

In: Social Issues

Submitted By mjchapma
Words 768
Pages 4
Courtroom work groups
Melissa Manciel
CJS/201
8/03/15
Robin Clawson

Court room
When you have reached this point in the judicial process, lives can be changed. Making the wrong decision can allow your life to be altered. There are selected groups of people who help the process of these proceedings. This is the time where a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. As time progress, the process will change and the roles themselves may change. The state courts hear civil, juvenile, drug, traffic, and family cases. While federal courts review cases where federal statues and issues between states are presented. In addition, the appellate court reviews the decisions made in state and federal courts. There is one court in this country that has its own set of rules and guideline that are not set forth by the state or federal government and that is the tribal courts. They have their own set of codes and provisions that they operate under. As I reviewed the tribal courts, I learned that no tribal courts are the same or follow the same guidelines. Therefore, as we review the roles and the workgroup within these courts remember that no two courts and no two cases are the same.
Criminal Courts
There is a collective group of people and they all play an important role in the courtroom. The judge is the head role on a courtroom; they review evidence and hand down sentencing over each case. They also make sure that the court cases are processed properly and by the guidelines at forth in the federal or state are being meet and they are far under the law.
The witness plays an important role in the prosecution and the defense’s case. Their testimony can change the outcome of a case. There are two type of witnesses: lay witnesses are eyewitnesses or a person who has first-hand knowledge of the crime. Then there are expert witnesses who have a special skill or/and knowledge surrounding the facts.
The court clerk plays a small but very important role in the courtroom. They keep the judges calendar in order and make sure all the papers in each case are processed properly and available for each case.
The court reporter keeps a transcript of all the proceedings taking place in the trial, so that they can always be referenced later if needed. The bailiff helps keep order in the court and escorts the accused to and from their seat. As directed by the judge.
The jury can range from 6- 23 jurors depending on the type of hearing is taking place. The play a very vital role in the court process. No matter how much evidence they may present at trial the last dissection belongs to the jury. They determine if a person is innocent or guilty.
Last but know least the prosecutor is the final piece of this work group. They have to job of providing the burden of proof when trying to prove a person is guilty of the crime or crimes that they have been charged with. They work for the state or federal government, and are paid by taxpayers to keep the community safe of dangerous and violent offenders.
In addition, keep in mind an academic essay should contain at least five paragraphs, which includes the introduction (introductory paragraph), the body (which is generally at least three paragraphs), and the conclusion (generally one paragraph). Most well developed paragraphs contain at least 3-5 sentences, one of which is the topic sentence. Limit each body paragraph to one main idea.

Conclusion
This group of people make up the work group that is known as our judicial system. When everyone does there job properly and as set forth by the laws of the state or feudal courts the system works. This is not a well-oiled machine, but it works and serves its purpose. As of lately I have questioned the outcomes of the courts system and if it is functioning properly. I also have to understand no two courts are the same and each state has their own rules and guidelines they follow when prosecuting cases. While determining which cases take priority and are more likely to win. We have come a long ways in how the courts work and we have a ways to go but I am seeing improvement and I believe we will get where we need to be.

References
Schmalleger, F. Ph.D.(2015). Criminal Justice Today. An Introductory Text for the Twenty-First Century, Thirteenth Edition [University of Phoenix Custom Edition eBook]. : ., ISBN: 9780133460049

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