Some attorneys simply seem to enjoy outrageous conduct when it comes to proving the innocence of their client, and some simply relish the feeling of power they have in the courtroom environment. Giving attorneys too much power can lead to problems in the courtroom and in the justice system. The debate over punishment that fits the crime and the death penalty also seem like debates that will rage for a long time, no matter what happens in the criminal justice system. There are always going to be cases where a minor criminal is sentenced to a punishment that seems much bigger than the crime they committed, and there will always be people opposed and in support of the death penalty. These chapters show that the criminal justice system is not perfect, and that reforms could help create a better, more workable system, but they also show that there will always be some who do not approve of certain methods, punishments, and actions in the courtroom, and that is impossible to please everyone all the time. Throughout these chapters, the authors make the reader really...
Not only do the authors make the reader think, they present arguments on both sides of the issues, so the reader can weigh criminal justice procedures in their own minds, and discover just where they stand on a variety of issues. This book is more than a textbook, it is more like a working case book, where the decisions are up to the student, allowing the student to recognize that often, there is no black and white in criminal justice, there are gray areas where sometimes, victims or suspected criminals fall through the cracks. The authors also point out that many issues, such as the fairness and ethics of criminal sentencing are often judgment calls, which at first seems to fly in the face of the justice system. However, the system is run by and for humans, and humans are capable of mistakes, righting wrongs, and creating judgments. Reading these chapters leaves the student with questions, but also with a much greater sense of the role that ethics and morality play in the criminal justice system.
Applying equally strict enforcement to minor or merely "technical" violations of law that hardly affect others might reduce the quality of life in society instead of improving it. For example, in many jurisdictions motor vehicle codes are classified as penal (rather than civil) infractions that are arrestable offenses under strict application of the state police power through authorized law enforcement functions. However, it is doubtful that (1) taking enforcement
Specifically, the criminal justice system is designed more to address crimes after they have already been committed than to prevent them beforehand. The criminal justice system is well designed to investigate, prosecute, and punish criminal conduct; it is far less well designed to prevent criminal activity ahead of time, particularly in comparison to other social factors. By the time criminal violations come under the purview of the criminal justice system, they
To the extent criminal behavior is actually a result of spontaneous choice, it might be perfectly appropriate as a societal response to crime. On the other hand, to the extent criminal behavior is only partially attributable to spontaneous choice, the classical approach to crime control is inherently ineffective and unlikely to achieve the larger objective of reducing crime in society. Furthermore, the classical approach to crime control is unlikely to
Discuss with your peers the issue of whether the protection of the 4th Amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures has been seriously eroded by all these exceptions? Explain, in detail, why or why not? (1) Search Incident to Lawful Arrest permits police to search persons who are lawfully arrested. This is a practical exception that does not seriously erode 4th Amendment protections, mainly because it does not interfere with the
Criminal Justice: Crime Rate ComparisonCrime rates in the United States (US) have been rising. Certain rates for certain crimes are available for the previous years. The recent data has also corroborated the same trend (Disaster Center, n.a.); however, particular crimes for which the increase or decrease are still not clear. The purpose of this paper is to compare the crime rates of two selected states of the US, Nevada, and
Criminal Justice Trends The trends of the past, present and future that outline the borders connecting the criminal justice system components and their links adjoining the society is, beyond doubt, an authentic relationship that the law and society have established. Criminal justice has been affected by various trends in the times gone by. This is because trends keep changing with the passage of time. Therefore, it is exceedingly important for the
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