Impacts of Society Response to Crime on Criminal Justice Processes
Impacts of Society Response to Crime on Criminal Justice Processes
The criminal justice system is a societal construction that is reactive to social structure and changes. Society’s view of crime has changed over time. Society’s attitude towards acts of crime changes due to developments. For instance, an increase in the number of immigrants into a community introduces new cultures and perspectives that may bring about changes in criminal justice systems (Smith, 2010). Responses by society such as holding protests, boycotts, and riots impact public policing, sentencing practices and correctional operations in various ways.
The American society in the past was similar to many others where criminals were viewed to belong to a separate community that went astray. The criminal justice processes were greatly influenced by the society’s perception and judgment of cases presented. Back then, the courtroom presented a platform where offenders were publicly prosecuted, and punishment was perceived to be a means to redeem offenders. In these courtrooms, members of the public not only had the opportunity to respond to crimes, but also played an active role in the trial process. At the time, trial and sentencing was mainly influenced by gender, status and locality of the offenders and victims involved and was also by the society’s attitude towards the crime committed (Agnew, 2013).
Today, the society has changed, and this has affected the way justice systems operate in the country. People have adopted a culture of non-involvement where courtroom cases are considered private affairs, most crimes go unreported, and criminals go unpunished. Also, the justice processes have changed where for instance victim participation in trial processes have increased as compared to the past. That which is considered a criminal offence has also changed over time mainly because laws have changed from those mainly based on religion and traditions to those formulated on the basis of liberty.
There is no society that is without crime. Crime is a violation of norms, a form of rebellion against what is acceptable. Punitive policies are imperative as they help control criminal activities in the community making it inhabitable. They protect the communities from aggressive individuals bent on causing destruction. Punishment also reforms people, saving them from harming themselves as a result of the poor choices they make. Criminal justice systems regulate this entire process by determining what criminal, providing procedures to be followed during trials and highlighting the punishments (Garland, 2002).
Society response to crime has over the years lead to significant developments in public policies where acts such as strikes have compelled the government to attend to people’s pleas. Similar protests, pleas and petitions professionals and concerned members of the public also resulted in improvements in sentencing practices. Correctional operations have always been a cause of concern in the country. Societal responses have instigated improvements in this sector of the justice system.
The current society response on the goal of punitive acts is mainly in support of rehabilitation. The core intent is to offer a means to curtailing the perpetuation of crime. However, serious consideration of punitive acts not aimed at rehabilitation is given to serious offences where the death penalty and life without parole are supported by many. Society’s response to crime is crucial as through them the society describes a design to be used in creating restrictions within its borders by its administration (Agnew, 2013). They aid in the development of a comfortable environment where peace and harmony prevails by initiating understanding between all members of the society.
References
Agnew, R. (2013). Integrating Assumptions About Crime, People and Society Response to the Reviews of 'Towards a Unified Criminology'. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology, 74-93.
Garland, D. (2002). The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society. Oxford: Oxford Publishers.
Smith, D. (2010). A New Response to Youth Crime. Gloucester: Willan Publishers.
