Introduction to Criminal Justice Essay

This definition of a criminal offence comes from (Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary) and reads Crime an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public right of naturefulness and that makes the wrongdoer liable to punishment by that lawfulness especially a gross impingement of the law. There argon several(prenominal) definitions of crime, only when on that point all unchanging for the most part. People who commit crimes atomic number 18 held to serve well for the crimes they are criminate of.For this, we es displaceial hasten a juridic arranging in place that is fair and balanced. Although the soul accused of committing the crime is sometimes judged onward hes even g single(p) to court, he essential(prenominal) be allowed sealed rights and due process. Those rights must not be violated precedent to a trial. Its this system that makes American what we are. Sometimes there are human faces that make us t humb that the someone being tried should secure be executed or sent to jail, because the media has basically tried and convicted the somebody preliminary to trial.This was evident in the Casey Anthony murder trial. most(prenominal) Americans and the media had convicted her prior to trial. She was found not bloodguilty earlier today by 12 jurors. Is the system fair? Who knows, but this is the reason, split up of people believe there should be professional jurors for high profile cuticles alike this. On the other guide our judicial system has been around for a grand time and delivers in most cases a fair system of government that protects the innocent, the victims and the accused.Of origin all parties involved dont feel this way found on where youre at during the judicial process, but its a system thats fair to all parties. The system is overseen by federal systems that try to keep tramp and balance throughout the country. Without any of this we would be a country with no law and order. Vigilantes would run the streets creating their own laws and chaos would prevail. The lead components of the criminal justice system are The Police, The Criminal Courts and The Correctional Institutions.Each one of these components has a very specific component part and go hand in hand with one another. For example if a someone is begeted by a police police officer for a residential burglary, there is a series of events that relegate on the law enforcement side, out front the mirthful goes to court and out front he becomes a part of the correctional institutions. .Once an officer confirms a crime has been committed, he must place the person on a lower floor arrest and show there was likely cause to arrest the person.This information goes into a Probable Cause statement thats submitted during the booking process. If the singular is questioned he must be advised of his Miranda rights by the law enforcement officer. Evidence must be salt away to prove the crime was committed and the person being charged committed the crime. The umbrageous is therefore transported to the county jail for booking. The officer must then document the incident in a police report and be able to articulate the elements of the crime have been ful alter.The establish must be book and the police report must then be submitted to the District Attorneys office within a 48 hour time frame before the wary is arraigned in court. If any of this fails to happen the courts could release the fishy under penal Code 825. The case can comfort be submitted to the District Attorneys office, but it give be filled out of custody. If this process has been completed right on the criminal courts takes over their function. Once the suspect goes to court for his first appearance he is advised of his charges and the probable cause is substantiate by the courts.During this phase the report and evidence collected are examined by the defensive structure counsel to see if the suspect has a chance of winning the case. If the defense lawyer feels that his client may lose the case ground off of the evidence presented he may be allowed to plea mountain in which the suspect could plead to a lesser crime or allow for guilt to the crime he is accused of. There are several things that tally if this allowed to happen, to include the suspects past criminal storey and the seriousness of the crime.If the courts feel there is complete probable cause and the suspects rights have not been violated, the suspect volitioning be held to answer to the charges brought against him. Otherwise the suspect could be let free based on the overleap of probable cause, lack of physical evidence or the suspects rights being violated during the arrest or questioning process. If the suspect is held to answer he will then go to an arraignment. Once there he will plead either not guilty, guilty, or no contest. If a person pleads not guilty he is set for pre-trial at which time hi s case is handled by the persons lawyer.If need be the case goes to trial where he is judged by 12 of his peers or the person pleads to a lesser charge and the case is closed prior to the trial. If a trial takes place and the person is found guilty he will be sentenced by the judge based on the crimes committed. This can be presently or shortly after the trial. If the suspect is sentenced to prison he then becomes a part of the correctional institution. After sentencing he is usually turned over instantaneously to the custody of the sheriffs department season awaiting transportation to prison.