Why Study Criminal Justice?

The criminal justice system is “the aggregate of all operating and administrative or technical support agencies that perform criminal justice functions. The basic divisions of the operational aspects of criminal justice are law enforcement, courts, and corrections.” (Schmalleger, 2016). This statement illustrates how the criminal justice system is broken into three primary components which are the police, the tribunal, and the correctional agencies.

These three components work together to reach the common goal of serving justice and maintaining crime control. This is done by apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing anyone who may have possibly committed a criminal offense. They all share the same goal, however, they all have their individual parts.

The police enforce the laws by investigating crimes which are done by taking the offenders in for questioning, this is done to reduce and prevent the breaking of crimes. They must also guarantee emergency and related community services which are done to preserve the public order and safeguard the communities’ safety.  Last but not least they must also protect the central human rights and liberties of people.

Furthermore, the courts resolve disagreements in trials by determining if the defendant is faultless or guilty in a fair custom. This is done by upholding the law by means of giving a fair and unbiased trial with the due process of law while resolving criminal cases and determining their guilt or innocence.

Furthermore, there must be impartiality throughout the justice process especially when they are sentencing the guilty they must remember to protect the human rights and liberties of everyone facing processing through the justice system. Last, of all, they must make sure to check on the implementation of authority by the other justice system agencies. Then finally the corrections enforce the punishment. This is done by carrying out the sentences imposed by the courts, guaranteeing harmless and humane custody and supervision of offenders. They must also protect the community by rehabilitating, reforming, and reintegrating the convicted offenders back into their society while respecting the legal and human rights of the convicted offenders.

Although there may be differences amongst the three primaries, all parts must work together to ensure justice despite any personal bias. For example, “From 1988 to 1991, a group of four policemen in Philadelphia’s 39th district stole $100,000 from drug dealers and sent innocent people to prison” (White,1999). This statement demonstrates officers who put their own self-interest above the correct legal interest which can lead to a faulty system. However, this should never be the case because of the due process of law and is why the criminal must make sure to check on the implementation of authority by the other justice system agencies.

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