Entering the Criminal Justice Program Essay

Submitted By canizalez06
Words: 1012
Pages: 5
Open Document
Entering the Criminal Justice SystemLindsey R. CanizalezITT Technical InstituteAbstractIn this paper I will talk about the criminal justice system, its different components and how they are supposed to work together. I will explain what happens to a person when they commit a crime and the steps that are taken by law enforcement to have them entered into the criminal justice system. The roles of each component in the criminal justice system will be described and my opinion of whether they are successful in executing their responsibilities. Can the criminal justice system be made more effective? I believe so.
In order to enter into the criminal justice system, a person must commit a crime. Crimes are classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor is a criminal offense defined as less serious than a felony that is punishable by a fine or a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year. Examples of a misdemeanor are: assault, disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, obstructing justice, prostitution, trespassing, etc. A felony is a crime that has a greater punishment imposed by statute than that imposed on a misdemeanor (Wood, 1996). Examples of a felony are: drug abuse violations, larceny theft, murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, fraud, offenses against family and children, etc. After a person commits either a misdemeanor or a felony they are arrested and booked. Booking is a process where the police department records the inmate’s personal information, description, photograph, fingerprints and checks their record for criminal history. After a person is booked they will notify them their exact charges and the amount of bail that is required for them to be released. When you post bail you pay ten percent, for example, your bail is $25,000 you will make payments to the bail bondsmen of $2,500. You are released from jail until your court appearance. Based on the outcome of your hearing depends on what happens next. Some cases may be dropped and your only obligation is to finish paying your bond. If you are found guilty the judge will determine your sentencing. Probation is one sentencing option executed by judges instead of incarceration. Someone on probation stays in their community although they must abide by certain probation conditions for a period of time; for example drug and alcohol free, staying away from known criminals. Another option is parole. Parole is an early release from prison or jail, allowing convicted offenders the opportunity of living in their communities, parole also comes with its own restrictions and conditions. Law enforcement is the most dangerous component of the criminal justice system. Law enforcement is consisted of police officers and detectives. They are responsible for finding and arresting people who have broken the law whether it is state, federal or military laws. Police officers also generate charges brought against the criminal. The second component of the criminal justice system is the court. The court system includes prosecution and defense lawyers, judges and juries. These individuals make sure offenders are given fair trials. Judges hear the cases and oversee the participants to make sure that all laws are followed while the cases are being tried. Some cases are tried in front of a judge only, while others have a jury of 12 citizens who determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant based on facts brought forth during a trial. A jury may also make a recommendation of what a sentence should be. A judge ultimately decides a sentence unless there are predetermined sentencing guidelines that need to be followed. Sentencing guidelines are more prevalent in the federal justice system.The third and final component of the criminal justice system is corrections. The role of this component is to uphold and administer sentences handed down by judges. The corrections system, which is tightly intertwined with the previous two components,
Show More

Related Documents: Entering the Criminal Justice Program Essay

Example Of Personal Statement

I am Donovan Kopetsky, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in Lower Brule, South Dakota; however, I currently reside in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I am entering my third year of college pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a criminal justice emphasis and a minor in psychology at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. I have attained the knowledge through my own learning experience that just about everybody has their own individual challenges in this uncertain world we live in…

Words 469 - Pages 2

What Is A Bachelor's Degree In Criminal Justice?

Criminal justice is a broad term regarding the procedure in which criminal offenses are investigated, evidence gathered, offender arrests made, charges brought against offenders, defense initiated for offenders, trails conducted, sentencing rendered, and punishment issued by the court carried out (Criminal Justice, n.d.). The field of criminal justice concentrates on implementing effective public safety procedures and reducing criminal behavior through the study of crime and criminals. Knowledge…

Words 738 - Pages 3

Essay on Operant Conditioning in the Criminal Ju

Operant Conditioning in the Criminal Justice System Z. M. Keys Psychology of Criminal Behavior CCJS 461 17 October 2014 "The only way to tell whether a given event is reinforcing to a given organism under given conditions is to make a direct test. We observe the frequency of a selected response, then make an event contingent upon it and observe any change in frequency. If there is a change, we classify the event as reinforcing to the organism under the existing conditions." (Skinner…

Words 2665 - Pages 11

Essay on Recidivism: Prison and Correctional Education

war on drugs, the number of individuals involved with criminal justice system continues to rise at alarming rates. Since 1980, the incarceration rate has tripled. 1 in 20 Americans will spend time in prison during their lifespan. The numbers speaks for themselves. Currently there are an estimated 2 million people in U.S. federal and state prisons. Given the unprecedented rise of individuals now involved with the American criminal justice system and the soaring rates or recidivism, there is a…

Words 1814 - Pages 8

Federal Bureau of Investigation and Behavioral Analysis Unit Essay

to my own; such as the loss of close friends and family members due to murder or other heinous acts. Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice seemed to be the perfect path to my dream. This will not only help me give back to those who I can share similar backgrounds with but also give those who have been struck by bad fate a chance to find peace and justice within their own lives again; finally putting away the monsters that made way into their lives. Adolescents are often hindered in life…

Words 862 - Pages 4

Future Juvenile Reform Essay

Future of the Juvenile Justice System CJA/374 Future of the Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Justice System reform is a critical and current issue in the United States. The call to action by various researchers, industry leaders, and multi-disciplinary teams has been strong and convincing. This team proposal will offer reform recommendations in five vital areas of the system: law enforcement, community, courts, corrections, and the private sector. In addition, justifications for change and the…

Words 1524 - Pages 7

The Pros And Cons Of Prison Incarceration

dollars more at thirty four thousand dollars per prisoner per year (La Vigne and Samuels). These costs are something that have to be considered at trials and sentencing hearings by judges and justices. The budget of the bureau of Prisons is 6,900,000,000 dollars per year, which is twenty five percent of the Justice Department’s budget. The United States spends infinitely more money imprisoning people rather than educating them. No state spends more than twenty thousand dollars per student per year which…

Words 730 - Pages 3

Juvenile Delinquency Crisis Essay

control, boredom, lack of interference with delinquent children, drug abuse, and living in a poor environment happen to be valid theories that support why juvenile criminal behavior is becoming a national epidemic. With this information, one can gather ways to combat juvenile delinquency, such as [place holder] Due to high rise of juvenile criminal behavior the state courts ore becoming crowded. There is a challenge into saving the juvenile from being caught up in the system of delinquency has consequence…

Words 1469 - Pages 6

Juvenile Offender Incarceration Analysis

Juvenile offender incarceration has increased in recent years and lead to many countries developing innovating programs to reduce these numbers. Youth offenders are committing serious offences such as armed robberies, rape, indecent assault and murder. Successful re entry into society has become challenging as many are not equipped with the resources get an education, or employment. This article looks at the communities which these youths are living and some of the preventative measures that have…

Words 669 - Pages 3

Essay about Juvenile Gangs

economic alternatives are lacking. I will be exploring the possible proactive solutions to this social problem. Juvenile gangs on the street and in prison “Violent crimes committed by juveniles are not diminishing, as other crimes, as reported by the Justice Department statistics, are (Siegel and Welsh, 2011).” We see that juveniles have more access, and more use of the weapons of violence, including gang affiliation. So why do young people join gangs? First of all, the gang…

Words 961 - Pages 4