Section One: Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice system is an extremely essential part of government. It is the main body tasked with ensuring that justice, law and order are part of the society. These are essential elements of any society that aspires to ensure continuous growth and development. It is only by having competent, effective and efficient criminal justice system and institution that are not only trusted by the citizens of a country, but also by citizens of other nations that a country will realize its potential. The economy, security, agriculture, industrialization, commerce and trade and all other important sectors of life are extremely dependent on the performance of the criminal justice system. These is because it the system that is entrusted with arbitration and resolving of conflicts between interacting parties in all these sectors. Therefore, justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.
The criminal justice system in American includes all government organs, institution and agencies tasked with the responsibility of law making, interpretation of the law and law enforcement. This means, therefore, that is a system that has several institutions that are interdependent of each other with regards to their operations, but still rely on each other to achieve the overriding objective. Congress must make fair and just laws that seek to advance or have the interest of the American people at heart. The judiciary must interpret these laws in a fair, objective and just manner and must apply them equally to all citizens with discrimination. On the hand, law enforcement officers must perform their duties with discipline, commitment and honor to the profession with abuse of powers, corruption or ill intentions. The prosecution of suspects should be entirely based on the merits of the case, good faith and the available evidence. Police investigations should also be carried out in the professional conduct it deserves without any attempt from any quarters to interfere with the case.
There are several steps that case follows in the criminal justice system. First we begin by an investigation by law enforcement officers into any alleged crime. The police can acquire a search if they have a probable cause to enter any premises that they think might shed light on any criminal offense committed. An arrest will then be made of the suspect. It is cardinal to have a probable cause for an arrest and the suspect is held in police custody. The district attorney will then prosecute the defendant for the alleged criminal acts by adducing evidence in court. Then, what follows is an indictment by the jury of the suspect’s peers. The suspect will be arraigned before a judge where he will plead either guilty or not guilty. The judge depending on the circumstance of the case will order the suspect to be release on bail or detained awaiting trial. If the defendant had pleaded guilty he can engage the prosecution in a plea bargaining. A trial will then ensure; where the accused has to be either found guilty or not guilty. A finding of guilty must be supported by evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt. The sentencing of the accused is left to the judge as it is a question of law and not a question of fact. The judge must sentence an accused according to the statute creating the offense and penalty. The accused may elect to appeal the ruling where the appellate court can either affirm or quash the trail court ruling. If affirmed the accused will have to receive his punishment or/and rehabilitation.
Section Two: Use of Police Force
The police are an extremely essential part of the criminal justice system. Without the police service the rule of law would be a utopia. Therefore, the government must always seek to ensure that they not only expand the police force, but also equip them adequately to counter emerging security challenges. With increased technology, terrorism, globalization and increased population, the expansion of the police force service is not only a desirable thing, but vital if the society has to remain governable, safe and secure. Criminals and terrorist are devising new and more complex means to commit atrocities towards people every day, and it is the duty of the police to ensure that they are always one place ahead. They can only ensure this if they continue to expand their capacity, manpower, technology, techniques and knowledge. Therefore, government should allocate more resources than before the police for recruitment and expansion. The criminal justice system is also heavily dependent on the police. If the police detectives are unable to carry out independent, competent and fair investigation about matters in a society justice will be a mirage. It is vital, therefore, the departments be reinforcement with more manpower to enable it handle its obligations to the citizenry effectively, objectively and independently. For a case to succeed before a court of law, it will depend on the evidence adduced by the prosecution. This evidence can only be sufficient if the police carry out a thorough investigation.
References
Dammer, H. R., & Albanese, J. S. (2011). Comparative Criminal Justice Systems. New York: Cengage Learning.
Ellison, G., & Pino, N. (2012). Globalization, Police Reform and Development: Doing it the Western Way? New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Falk, G. (2010). The American Criminal Justice System: How It Works, How It Doesn't, and How to Fix It. New York: ABC-CLIO.
Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2010). America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System. New York: Cengage Learning.
Savage, S. P. (2007). Police reform: forces for change. New York: Oxford University Press.
