This paper provides a foundational overview of the United States criminal justice system, examining how federal, state, and local agencies work together to address crime. It explores the roles of the three branches of government—legislative, judicial, and executive—in shaping criminal justice policy. The paper then discusses the system's three major components: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Finally, it traces the procedural steps a suspect undergoes from arrest through arraignment, highlighting the roles of police officers, prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys in ensuring justice and public safety.
The criminal justice system can be described as a collection of state, federal, and local agencies concerned with the problem of crime. Such agencies assist in processing convicted offenders, defendants, and suspects. They are also interdependent, as decisions made by one agency are capable of affecting all other agencies within the system. The primary framework of the system is provided by the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government.
Both federal and state legislatures define crimes, fix sentences, and provide funding for criminal justice agencies. The judiciary consists of trial courts, which make judgments on and pronounce the guilt of persons charged with crimes, and appellate courts, which interpret the law according to the principles of the Constitution. Federal and state appellate courts can review legislative decisions and determine whether they comply with federal law, state law, and ultimately the United States Constitution. Courts are empowered by judicial review to evaluate legislative acts based on whether they conform to constitutional rules. If a law conflicts with the Constitution, it may be struck down by an appellate court (Fuller, 2005).
The executive branch grants authority to mayors, governors, and the president. Their powers over criminal justice matters include appointing judges and heads of agencies — for example, directors of departments of corrections and police chiefs. Moreover, elected officials are capable of leading efforts to improve justice by putting forth legislative agendas and mobilizing public opinion.
The justice system's major components — police, courts, and corrections — deter and prevent criminal activity by apprehending persons involved in criminal acts, trying them, and subsequently punishing them. Police departments are public agencies with functions that include maintaining order, enforcing criminal law, and providing services to the community. Police officers operate within their communities for the purpose of preventing and controlling crime. They work in cooperation with prosecutors in investigating criminal activity and collecting evidence essential to obtaining convictions in court. Courts are tribunals in which persons accused of violating criminal law have their criminal responsibility determined by judges or juries. The court's function is to seek justice and discover the truth. The main actors are judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors (Garland, 2002).
Corrections encompasses prisons, jails, parole, probation, and various community-based sanctions such as electronic monitoring and house arrest. The functions of correctional agencies are to rehabilitate offenders, impose punishment, and ensure public safety.
A police officer will make an arrest when he has probable cause to believe that a person has committed a misdemeanor, a violation, or a felony. If a person is charged with a misdemeanor or felony, the officer must file a complaint in criminal court. The individual will be held in jail for at least twenty-four hours until he is able to appear before a judge. Upon being booked into jail, the person is photographed and fingerprinted. The officer will then run the person's record to determine whether he has had any prior arrests. When a person has been charged with only a violation, he will be released and asked to appear before the court at a later date and time (Wolfgang, 1990).
The prosecutor will then meet with the police officer to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to charge the individual with a crime. If the prosecutor finds the evidence insufficient, the person will be released from jail. If the prosecutor finds adequate evidence, the individual must meet with court representatives to determine whether bail should be set, whether the person should be released without bail, or whether the person should be held without bail. The individual will then be brought to court to be arraigned. The individual and his attorney will be informed of the charges being brought against him and offered an opportunity to resolve the case without trial. At this stage, the individual is capable of negotiating a plea bargain.
"Steps from arrest through arraignment and plea bargain"
Wolfgang, Marvin. "Crime and Punishment in Renaissance Florence." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (Northwestern University) 81, no. 3 (1990): 567–84.
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