Criminal Justice

System
By Cindy Tran
 History

The criminal justice system has existed since the beginning

First established in England in Colonial times where
there were no strict rules or structure.
The times where church and state were one.
Town meeting and church meetings was issues, laws
and punishments were discussed
Punishment could include torture and often death
In the past have also been to for accused witches, and
even free labor after slavery was deemed illegal
 How Members of Society View People in
the Criminal Justice System.
Whites are more punitive than In todays society some people find flaws in the criminal justice
blacks and Hispanics even though system it seems one of things that people have an issue with the
they experience less crime. criminal justice seems to be the controversy over race. According
to Charles Blow, the more popular opinion is that white people are
getting privileged over blacks in the way that they are punished.
Many media outlets reinforce the Social media capitalizes on this because they know that this will
publics racial misconceptions about
gain attention. While it is true for some cases, it is not the same for
crime by presenting African-Americans
all.
and Latinos differently than whitesboth
quantitatively and qualitatively.
Television news programs and
newspapers over represent racial
minorities as crime suspects and whites
as crime victims.
 The process
From colonial times, where the punishment could easily go straight to getting your
head chopped off in public, times have changed and the process to a punishment has
improved greatly.

The 3 Stages according to Findlaw

Law enforcement: This would include a police officer witnessing or being able to prove
you did something against the law, and taking you into custody.
Court System: This is where a judge and jury will find you innocent or guilty, where a
lawyer will plead your case.
Corrections: If the judge and jury found you guilty, this is the final step which includes
imprisonment.
Changes Overtime
Separation of Church and state.

Imprisonment is no longer used for free labor.

Everyone has a right to a lawyer and fair trial

Innocent until found guilty, so someone must be able to prove that you committed a
crime, in order to get punished.

We now have no cruel or unusual punishments.

Everyone has a right to the full process and is never immediately punished.

Everyone is equal under the law.

Body cameras.
 Cause of These Changes

One of the biggest changes was the creation of the U.S Constitution. It
made everyone equal under the law, and created requirements in
which every position in the criminal justice system must follow. This
was a major contribution.

Also, the people have been a big cause, always thinking of new and
improved ideas.

Social media has also helped. It seems that in modern times, word gets
around more quickly, so that any mistakes or flaws will get to the
people faster, and this creates a unity. People become stronger in
groups and are able to fight against an injustice must stronger.
 The Constant
A lot has changed from the first criminal justice system, and a lot has improved, however it
seems as the roles in the criminal justice system has not changed. For example, however
crime that is committed, there will always be a punishment. Also, there was always a person
in position of power in some form to be the judge. There was also always some form of
police, where it was a neighbor or a towns person that turned in the criminal. The roles
naturally were formed and stuck to this day, only now we have assigned police officers and
judges, and different forms of punishment.
 Improvements?

Some improvement could include

Teaching prisoners work skills while they are in prison

Setting up jobs for them once they get out, so perhaps they will be become better
reformed

An interview, before releasing the prison to determine if they are truly ready to rejoin
society.

Putting on the people that are a danger to society in prison, and perhaps giving a fee
or taking away certain rights to the people that committed a crime, but are not a
danger, so that less money goes to prisons.
 Roles Played
Police officers: This is a very important role to the criminal justice system. They patrol
the streets, protect the people, instill fear in criminal, and help to keep the streets safer.
Without them, the streets may be chaos.

Judge: This person keeps order in the court. A very knowledgable person who gets to
make decision on how a case may go.

Jury: In the court, the judge is not the only one with power, the jury is a group of people
who get to make the final decision on whether a person is found innocent or guilty.

Lawyers: Not everyone is educated in how the law works, so we need people who are
to defend ourselves and give us the best chance, this is where lawyers play their role.
 Does the Criminal Justice System
Work?
For the most part, the criminal justice system works to the best of its ability. With the police
on the streets and imprisonment a threat people create less crimes. Without the laws and
the criminal justice system, people may not be as moral, and there would be no one to come
to our rescue. The laws are to protect its people, the people have a lot of rights and that is
not how it is like in all countries today. We are sheltered due through our criminal justice
system.
 Homeboy industries homeboyindustries.org/

Homeboy industries is a program that helps convicted

felons learn skills needed in order to join the workforce,
instead of being out on the streets potential being
influenced by the wrong or feeling like they need to
steal or sell drugs to make a living. This is a great
cause started by Father Greg, who puts all his time
effort, and money into this program. You can always
donate to help his cause, I left a link at the top. Even
just going to their bakeries or their merch store, you are
supporting a good cause, and helping these people to
stay out of the criminal justice system. I have been
there myself and they make excellent pastries.
 Work Cited
Blow, Charles M. Opinion | Crime, Bias and Statistics. The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Sept. 2014,

www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/opinion/ Accessed 5 August, 2017.

How Does the Criminal Justice System Work? FindLaw. N.p.,n.d. Web

http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics Accessed 29 July, 2017

"Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice." University of Cinicinnati RSS. N.p., n.d. Web.

http://cjonline.uc.edu/resources/criminal-justice-researc Accessed 29 July 2017.

PART I: THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE WORKFORCE. Highered mheducation. N.p.,n.d. Web

http://highered.mheducation.com/olc2/ Accessed 5 August, 2017.

PERCEPTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Connie L. McNeely. N.p.,n.d. Web.

http://www.albany.edu/scj/ Accessed 5 August, 2017.

Public perceptions of crime and the criminal justice system survey Colmar Brunton. 2014. Web.

https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/ Accessed 5, August, 2017

The Prison Industry in the United States: Big Business or a New Form of Slavery? Centre for Research on