Hiring and personnel selection in the criminal justice system

¶ … 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).

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):

Local residents, based on their registered driving licenses are considered prospective jurors. 12 of them are selected by a blind draw, and these men/women are interviewed until 12, if not at least 6 are selected as jurors. The prosecution attorney then issues an opening statement, followed by one by the defense attorney. Witnesses are called by the prosecutor and the defense attorney separately, each with the right to cross examine. A responsible citizen is duty-bound to serve the role of a witness in a crime trial for criminal prosecution in the courts. The witness may be affiliated either to the prosecution or the defense. Both the prosecution and defense produce closing statements. The jury deliberates and reaches a verdict, which is required to be unanimous (Justice, 2012).

Corrections

The correctional system is divided into jails for minor offenders and prison for grossly large offenders. The jails (run by local bodies) more or less takes on correctional overtones while the prison is for hardened criminals with repeated criminal records. Interestingly, the U.S. which contributes to only 5% of the world population has over 250,000 prisoners (E.C. Viano, 2008).