Contemporary Topics and Issues Regarding the Criminal Justice System

Contemporary Topics and Issues Regarding the Criminal Justice System

1. What You Already Know About the Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice system is an integral part of any civilized society. Protecting one’s citizens from criminal victimization counts as the most fundamental function of a working government. As a part of the citizen fraternity, I desire to someday work in the criminal justice field. The criminal justice system works as a double-edged sword. According to Harding et al. (2017), the criminal justice system deals with individuals who break the law, and at the same time, it provides justice to victims of crime. In order to meet these fundamental roles, the criminal justice system is divided into law enforcement, corrections, and courts (Harding et al., 2017). Law enforcement is a part of the criminal justice system that is closest to the people. The branch is charged with investigating crimes and apprehending individuals alleged to have committed those crimes.

A just society is where justice exists. The search for justice is akin to holding a scale that has on one side what is right and on the other side, how that right is executed. The criminal justice system is complex, and it has come under a series of criticism in recent times. Law enforcement is entrusted with bringing about law and order; however, in the US, one faces the greater risk of being killed by the very people meant to provide protection (Edwards et al., 2019). Justifiably, the police are given the authority to use force whenever they encounter a situation that warrants force. Unfortunately, some police officers are guilty of abusing this same authority.

Resultantly, the criminal justice system needs a delicate balance between its varied components to search for the truth and justice. The dynamics of this balance are what is the most intriguing. It is an area that requires the players within the criminal justice system to understand their roles to advocate for the rights of crime victims (Harding et al., 2017). In the US, different states have fundamental preconditions regarding these many rights and a host of different case law frameworks. The criminal justice system level that most interests me is the area of prosecution. I am interested in improving the treatment of crime victims. Historically, victims of crime have often been less than adequately treated by the justice system. For a long time, the criminal justice system is victim driven, and it needs to change.

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