Australian Criminal Justice System
Formal mechanisms are required to make certain there is no bias or discrimination against the people. With informal mechanisms there was unfair treatment of the accused even to the point of receiving unjust sentencing. Those who had the power within the informal mechanisms often received the property or other goods once held by the accused, withhold evidence for personal benefit, or acted as vigilantes exacting their own justice (Lincoln and Robinson, 2010).
Social control is best managed by those that have been elected to oversee the management of the changing formats of punishment for criminal behavior. The formal mechanisms work best when connected with matters of state within society (Roach Anleu, 1998). One theory that demonstrates the interconnected relations is the Behaviorists Concept. This theory asserts that social control lies within governmental administration of what is considered a normal lifestyle through
Legislation, legal action and negotiation (White and Sutton, 1995) . The laws are integrated with the complexities of social relationships in terms of culture, morality, medical administration, and civil service. Punishment due to criminal activity is more attached to violators of the law, prohibit illegal activity, and establishing the guilt or sentencing of a prisoner.
Criminal Justice Components
Legal Component
The aim of the Australian criminal justice system under the legal component is founded on the decree that law and justice are independent of the judiciary system. The basic tenet is that all both native Australians and others within its borders should be treated equally in matters of law and their rights protected. So that people are treated fairly by the officials that have authority whether they are members state or national government. The rights to have an opportunity to face legal proceedings based on precedents and severance of powers are part of the foundation of the Australian legal system. The common laws originated in the United Kingdom. This is not the same as with other countries such as Europe, Japan or South America which have laws established from civil...
Similar to Australia are other common law systems in
India,
Canada,
Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United States (Lincoln and Robinson, 2010). The basic difference with civil and legal systems are that the judges decree is privy to precedent cases of common law. The judgments are decided based on decisions from former cases.
Law Enforcement Component
The
police force in Australia is organized as a national branch which is responsible for investigating federal offences such as
illegal immigration and drug related criminal activity. In addition to criminal actions relating to
national security or environmental acts. Each state within Australia and the North Territory has its own
police force to handle criminal activity based on its own state or territorial law. The Capital Territory is under the Federal Police's
jurisdiction.
The police forces have the responsibility of ensuring order in the communities and arresting those that have allegedly violated the law to have the matter resolved by the
court system. The
courts have the responsibility of deciding the guilt or innocence of the alleged criminal activity. The police have the
duty of collecting some evidence and bringing the offender before the court system.
Crime Commission Component
In 2003 the National Criminal Authority was replaced by the Australian Crime Commission which is a statutory organization designed as an independent law enforcement entity that cooperates with the national agencies of law enforcement throughout the country. This is to oversee and coordinate national criminal activity related to
organized crime or criminal networked activity. The role is to consolidate and collaborate all departments under an Intelligence law enforcement arm in order to deal with serious crime (Australian Government Dept. Of
Foreign Investment and
Trade, (AGD) 2011).
Court System Component
The states each have a
supreme court that has authority over all the criminal courts. The next functional court level is the district sometimes known as county courts which has the role of handling serious criminal cases. The judge in these cases presides over the proceedings deciding…
