Criminal Justice System
Crime and Justice in America
OVERVIEW OF CJ RESPONSE TO CRIME
50,000 Agencies Federal State Local
Police Courts Corrections
1-6: Time Expended by Criminal Justice Functions
CJ Response begins when…..
...crime is reported to the police
Crime
Investigation
Arrest
BOOKING
Formal Charges
Initial Appearance in Court
Preliminary Hearing (felony)
Grand Jury Indictment
Prosecutor’s Information
Formal Arraignment Case # 98001
Plea Bargaining
Trial
SENTENCING
Possible Appeals
Punishment
5 Types of Punishment
Fines
Probation
Intermediate Sanctions
Imprisonment
Death
Loose confederation of independent criminal justice agencies Criminal Justice Nonsystem
Costs of Criminal Justice in the United States
Criminal Justice expenditures represent only about...
4 per cent of Federal, state and local budgets
MENU Crime in the MediaMedia Institutions of Social ControlSocial Control CJ Response to Crime Pre-trial CJ Process Myths about CJ Simulations
The seizing and detaining of a person by lawful authority
The taking of a person into custody for the purposes of answering a criminal charge
A written order from a court directing …... Arrest Warrant Law enforcement officers to arrest a person
The process by which a suspect’s name, charge, fingerprints, photographs are entered into the police blotter Booking
Usually the violation of a law of a city or town Ordinance Violation
Misdemeanor A less serious crime generally punishable by a fine or by incarceration for not more than one year (jail)
Felony A serious crime punishable by death or by incarceration in for more than one year (prison)
A person against whom a legal action is brought, a warrant is issued, or an indictment is found Defendant
Charging Documents Complaint (Misd) Information (Felony) Grand Jury Indictment
Charging Documents Whether an Information or an Indictment is issued varies by state
Complaint A charging document specifying that an offense has been committed…
Complaint by a person named or described
A document that outlines the formal charges against a suspect... Information
A document that outlines the formal charges against a suspect... Information
Specifies the law that has been violated, and the evidence supporting the charges Information
A written accusation by a grand jury that one or more persons have committed a crime Grand Jury Indictment
A group of citizens who meet to investigate charges coming from preliminary hearings Grand Jury
Court Appearances Initial appearance Preliminary hearing
A pretrial stage in which a defendant is brought before a lower court…. Initial Appearance
To be given notice of the charge(s) Initial Appearance and is advised of his/her constitutional rights
A pretrial stage to hear the information or indictment and to allow a plea Arraignment
Usually, a monetary guarantee deposited with the court... Bail
to ensure the suspect / defendant will appear later in the CJ process Bail
to ensure the suspect / defendant will appear later in the CJ process Bail
Plea Bargaining The practice whereby a specific guilty sentence is to be imposed, if...
the accused pleads guilty to an agreed-upon charge(s) rather than going to trial Plea Bargaining
1-3: Criminal Case Dispositions
Jury Trial Bench Trial Types of Trials
A trial before a judge without a jury Bench Trial
A trial before a judge with a jury Jury Trial
MENU Crime in the MediaMedia Institutions of Social ControlSocial Control CJ Response to Crime Pre-trial CJ Process Myths about CJ
Myths about Crime and Criminal Justice
Myths are simplistic and distorted beliefs
Myths often are beliefs based on emotion rather than analysis
Myths are often based on dangerous falsifications i.e “Broad Daylight” “Gun Free Zones” Police -“Stop Crime” “Prison Changes Behavior”
Myths produce Why Myths are a Problem Ineffective crime fighting activity
Myths produce Why Myths are a Problem Ineffective application of resources