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Society's View Of Criminal Justice System
Society's Perception of the Criminal Justice System
Laws exist to maintain order and peace and provide for the safety and well-being of all members of society. Acts that disrupt and threaten this system of order are deemed criminal in nature and are therefore punishable by law. For the most part, Americans understand that our criminal justice system is designed to prevent criminal behavior, punish offenders and make society safer for all. However, there are still those times when the system fails -- convictions can be overturned by DNA evidence, those accused may be coerced into confessions, and vulnerable people such as those with mental illness or handicaps may be taken advantage of (Cox, 2013). Such incidents make it difficult to have full trust that the criminal justice system is truly functioning as originally intended.
Perceptions about the criminal justice system begin with perceptions of those in power. Instances of judges and jurors being bribed or being influenced by celebrity create a sense of distrust among the public. Special interest groups, organizations whose members are mobilized and share specific agendas and objectives, are also common factors in cases that...
They are quite powerful and work to gain favor with politicians and legislative officials in order to influence governmental policy (Unnever, Gabbidon, & Higgins, 2011). They use a variety of tactics to push their interests. The fact that external groups or the wealthy would have the power to manipulate the criminal justice system calls into question ethics and impartiality.
For the American people to have faith in the criminal justice system, we have to believe that the edict that everyone is truly innocent until proven guilty is taken seriously. However, what does it say when there are questionable rates of incarceration and lengthy sentences for minorities when compared to similar crimes committed by whites? It seems to be a red flag for injustice and bias. Some feel that in this way the criminal justice system engages in socially sanctioned hatred against those who have been traditionally marginalized in our society -- blacks, Latinos, homosexuals, immigrants, and the poor (Hurwitz & Peffley, 2005). Being able to afford a good attorney can mean the difference between a brief sentence and a long one. While public defenders can be appointed, they are often balancing heavy…
References
Cox, A. (2013). New visions of social control? Young people's perceptions of community penalties. Journal of Youth Studies, 16(1), 135-150. doi:10.1080/13676261.2012.697136.
Hurwitz, J., & Peffley, M. (2005). Explaining the Great Racial Divide: Perceptions of Fairness in the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Journal of Politics, 67(3), 762-783. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2508.2005.00338.x.
Unnever, J.D., Gabbidon, S.L., & Higgins, G.E. (2011). The Election of Barack Obama and Perceptions of Criminal Injustice. JQ: Justice Quarterly, 28(1), 23-45. doi:10.1080/07418825.2010.493525.
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