Hiring Process Within the Criminal

¶ … Hiring Process Within the Criminal Justice System

Hiring Process Within the Criminal Justice System

Selection/Hiring process within the Criminal Justice System

Police

Summary of Progress of a Criminal Case through the Criminal Justice System

The Courts

Corrections

Hiring Process within the Criminal Justice System

In whichever context the American Judicial System is considered, one thing is for certain that there is a diverse and extensive amount of information used and transferred in this system. United States, before 1960, was sadly racist in outlook, and most policemen were whites, the gloom of discrimination looming large against women and racial minorities. Since it was a fact that public support was crucial for success, it dawned on the authorities, that hiring of prospective police officers in both genders from a wide-ranging community base, from across the United States, would guarantee somewhat the support of the residents of that area (Richardson, 1988).

The United States Criminal Justice system comprises of law enforcement, courts and corrections. Designed for an effective deterrence against crime in general, one can find diverse factors ingratiated into the system, which seem interrelated on several counts. The sovereign courts have an effective role to play in pronouncing judgments even with regard to the police and correction entities (USCourts, 2012).

Police

The difficult process of maintaining discipline (law and order) is that of the police, besides exploration of alleged criminal actions, are further charged with the onus of reaching their investigative reports along with the suspect, to the courts. Evaluation of threat perceptions and evolving deterrent and preventive action, are also part of their job. They also have to enforce writs and warrants issued by the courts on a time-bound basis and in an efficient order. This law enforcement leg of the criminal-justice system is also responsible to respond effectively to public-safety threats, protection to public property and, in some cases, even public officials, apart from which; they also operate a few correctional facilities in the neighborhood (Justice, 2012).

Summary of Progress of a Criminal Case through the Criminal Justice System

We will now review all issues that is, in the normal course, liable to create confusion for the witnesses, the accused, and their relatives:

When a crime information report alerts the police, they visit the crime scene and question the witnesses, victim and suspects, besides collecting physical evidence. On the strength of these, the officer may arrest a suspect forthwith, and later submit a warrant to the prosecuting Attorney for ratification (Ray Moses, 2001).

Issuing a charge to the suspect is probably the primary step in any case, and the prosecuting attorney, who enters the case for the first time, determines the maintainability of charging the suspect, after a thorough study, after he reviews every aspect, of the case pertaining to the documents produced before him, and the suspect's previous records. If convinced about the culpability of the suspect, he/she will issue a charge, or as more often done, return it to the police for further investigation (Roufa, 2011).

The Courts

The federal court arraignment in the United States refers mainly to two categories of courts. The first, called article III courts comprise of the district, the circuit courts of appeals and the Supreme Court, who are invested with powers of general jurisdiction, and can hear any case that is brought before it. In addition, two special courts, one for international trade, and the other, for claims are available. Summarily speaking, you have one Supreme Court 13 appeals courts and 94 Districts Courts. The other cluster of courts, comprising of the U.S. Military Appeals court, the Bankruptcy courts, the Magistrate courts, Tax Court and the Court of Veterans' Appeals are referred to Legislative courts or Article 1. All judges of the above courts are appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate (USCourts, 2012).

In all cases, the court serves as the arena where disputes are argued, and a fair verdict pronounced. The court is normally, replete with what is called a workgroup which comprises the prosecutor, the attorney for the defense and Judge, apart from the various other court clerks, attorney's assistants and other court functionaries. The prosecuting attorney is to lay all facts and evidence and the details of crimes and witnesses before the honorable court and convince the court why the suspect should be found guilty and sentenced. The defense attorney will argue the case for his client and try to get him maximum remission (Lawrence, 1996). Having heard the arguments, of the defense and prosecution, the judge considers it thoroughly and provides a judgment.

Once the pretrial procedures are completed, and decisions are arrived as to whether it is a case of felony or misdemeanor, the accused is produced in front of the judge in the district court, before which he is informed of his legal rights. The judge then decides upon a bail bond depending on the resources of the offender, after which he is released with several overriding conditions (Justice, 2012).

The process of an agreement between the defendant and prosecutor accepting for a single judge to hear the arguments and dispose off a case, is referred to as a "bench trial." However, if the defendant has apprehensions of true justice being meted out to him under a single judge, probably due to several extraneous circumstances, the accused through his defense attorney may request for a jury trial, which is, "the spinal cord of democracy, the palladium of free government" and follows the following procedures (Moses, 1998):