Criminal justice systems and reform

¶ … new phase of my life, it is helpful to examine the reasons why I am so strongly drawn to the field of criminal justice. I have always been concerned with the efficiency and implications of the American legal system. Nothing irks me more than injustice, whether that injustice is deliberate or unintentionally. Since I was a child, I was fascinated by the entire process of criminal justice, from the initial stages of arraignment to the final stages of sentencing. Therefore, when it was time for me to choose a major during my undergraduate career, I immediately delved into Sociology and Political Science. The sociology of deviance as well as the public and judicial treatment of deviant individuals is a complex subject matter that cannot be adequately addressed by academia alone. After attaining my Bachelor's degree, I worked briefly with the State of New Jersey Division of Law and Public Safety. This experience enlightened me about the confluence of public policy and personal choice when it comes to the justice system. I was exposed to the daily workings of the state judiciary, which reinforced in me the admiration and respect I have for the American legal system in general.

During the course of my personal and professional life, I have been exposed to the many facets of the legal system. Some of my experiences and observations have been negative, but most have been positive and educational. Now, twenty-two years after I decided to pursue a career in an unrelated field -- nursing -- I am returning to criminal justice as a career. I have found that no sector of life is removed from the justice system. All people are impacted by the laws that govern our society. The criminal justice system ensures public safety and influences the consciousness of most citizens.

Criminal justice seems like a calling for me. When I finally made the choice to change career paths, I immediately investigated the program at Monmouth University because I believe the school can help me to fulfill my goals. I also feel that the faculty at Monmouth can more than adequately prepare me for a rewarding career in the field of criminal justice. I hope to learn more about the history of the United States Criminal Justice system during my course of study. This will place current law and sociology into perspective for me, providing me with a working knowledge of the fundamental philosophy underlying our laws. I would also like to learn more about how the criminal justice system works in detail. For example, what laws are designed to protect the innocent? What methods are law enforcement officials permitted to use on suspects in order to retrieve information? What are the basic procedures, however mundane, that servants of the law follow? How are cases brought to trial? These and hundreds of other questions will be answered once I complete a course of study in criminal justice.