Presentation on theme: "Chapter 1 Crime and Criminal Justice"— Presentation transcript
Slide1
Chapter 1
Crime and Criminal JusticeSlide2
Developing the Criminal Justice System
Urbanization in the East and expansion in the West led to the development of more formal criminal justice systems.
Citizens’ advocacy groups (Chicago Crime Commission) advocated for justice and oversaw criminal justice agencies.
The Wickersham Commission (1931) was the first complete analysis of the criminal justice system.Slide3
Developing the Criminal Justice System
The Modern Era of Justice
Research in the 1950’s (American Bar Foundation) found a disjointed system that was largely hidden from public scrutiny.
Recognized the need to integrate the components of the criminal justice system.Slide4
Developing the Criminal Justice System
Federal Involvement in Criminal Justice
In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson created the President’s Commission on Crime and Administration of Justice.
Their final report (
The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society
) identified numerous challenges in the criminal justice process.
In 1968, Congress passed the Safe Streets and Crime Control Act.
Provided funding at the local level for research and improvement of justice systems.Slide5
The Contemporary Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice system is society’s instrument of social control.
The criminal justice system responds to dangerous behavior.
Criminal justice agencies apprehend, adjudicate and sanction law breakers.
The criminal justice system resides in every branch (executive, judicial, and legislative) of government.Slide6
The Contemporary Criminal Justice System
The principal components of the criminal justice system are;
Law enforcement agencies that investigate crimes and apprehend suspects,
Court agencies that conduct trials and sentence offenders, and
Correctional agencies that monitor and rehabilitate offenders.Slide7
The Contemporary Criminal Justice System
The size and cost of criminal justice is staggering.
$200 billion annually, up more than 300 percent since 1982
18,000 law enforcement agencies employ 800,000 officers and support personnel.
17,000 courts and 8,000 prosecutorial agencies.
6,000 institutional corrections agencies and more than 3,500 probation and parole departments.Slide8
The Formal Criminal Justice Process
Initial contact
Investigation
Arrest
Custody
Charging
Preliminary hearing/grand jury
Arraignment
Bail/detention
Plea bargaining
Trial/adjudication
Sentencing/disposition
Appeal/post conviction
Correctional treatment
Release
PostreleaseSlide9
The Formal Criminal Justice Process
The Criminal Justice Assembly Line
Some view the criminal justice process as an assembly line in a factory.
Conveyer belt
Endless supply of cases
Others view it as a funnel.
Large number of cases entering the system
For numerous reasons cases exit the process
Leaving only relatively few cases that progress through the entire process.Slide10
The Informal Criminal Justice Process
Traditionally the process is viewed as a series of formal decision points.
In reality, cases are often settled informally through cooperative agreements.
Plea bargaining
Discretion
Desire to preserve resources for more serious cases.
The courtroom work groupSlide11Slide12
The Informal Criminal Justice Process
The criminal justice system can be viewed as a four layer wedding cake.
Level one – Celebrated cases
Level two – Serious felonies
Level three – Less serious felonies
Level four – Misdemeanors
The smallest number of cases receive the most public attention.Slide13
Discussion
How are Level I cases different from the other levels? Take for example Charlie
Sheen, a popular actor…and a drug abuser who has been the subject of interest in repeated incidents of violence, destruction of property, and erratic behavior.
Form
small groups and
discuss the
perceptions of bias in the criminal justice system regarding issues of fame, wealth, or social status.
Identify
a student from within each group to summarize those perceptions.Slide14
Perspectives on Justice
There are a variety of perspectives on justice:
Crime Control Perspective
Rehabilitation Perspective
Due Process Perspective
Nonintervention Perspective
Equal Justice Perspective
Restorative Justice PerspectiveSlide15
Perspectives on Justice
Crime Control Perspective
Deter crime through the application of punishment.
The more efficient the system, the greater its effectiveness.
The justice system is not equipped to treat people but to investigate crimes, apprehend suspects, and punish the guilty.Slide16
Perspectives on Justice
Rehabilitation Perspective
Care for people who cannot manage themselves.
It is better to treat than to punish.
Criminals are society’s victims.
Helping others is part of the American culture.
Convicted criminals can be successfully treated. Slide17
Perspectives on Justice
Due Process Perspective
Provide fair and equitable treatment for the accused.
Every person deserves their constitutional rights and privileges.
Constitutional rights and democratic ideals take precedence over punishment.
Decisions must be carefully scrutinized to avoid errors.Slide18
Perspectives on Justice
Nonintervention Perspective
Criminal justice agencies should limit involvement with criminal defendants.
Labeling individuals as criminals is harmful and disruptive.
Stigmas lock people into a criminal way of life.
Decriminalize, divert, and deinstitutionalize.Slide19
Perspectives on Justice
Equal Justice Perspective
Equal treatment for equal crimes.
Decision making is standardized and structured by rules and regulations.
Individual discretion reduced and controlled.
Inconsistent treatment produces disrespect for the system.Slide20
Discussion
The News Channel
RTAmerica
discusses the criminal justice system. In light of high-profile criminal cases headlining America's TV screens - the Casey Anthony trial and the DSK case -- RT's Anastasia
Churkina
takes a look at the ties between the U.S. criminal justice system, the media and the court of public opinion.
How are the media, court, and public opinion related and/or independent from each other?Slide21
Perspectives on Justice
Restorative Justice Perspective
Offenders should be reintegrated back into society.
Coercive punishments are self-defeating
Justice system must become more humane.Slide22
Perspectives on Justice
Perspectives in Perspective
No single perspective is inherently just.
During the past decade the crime control and equal justice models have dominated.
Rehabilitation, due process, and the least-intrusive treatment have not been completely abandoned, only diminished.Slide23
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Justice personnel function in an environment where moral ambiguity is the norm.
Enormous power is granted to criminal justice employees.
Justice employees often have considerable discretion in decision making.Slide24
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Ethics in Law Enforcement
Police have authority to deprive people of their liberty.
Police serve as the interface between the power of the state and citizens it governs,
Most of what happens in policing is done far away from active supervision.Slide25
Ethics in Criminal Justice
Ethics in the Courts
Prosecutors have roles that sometimes conflict
Representing the people
Representing the court.
Ethics and corrections
Corrections workers have significant coercive and punitive power of incarcerated offenders.
