1. Crime & An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System

2. Crime Defined Why do we have a criminal justice system? Crime defined:
A wrong committed against society which has been proclaimed by law and when the action is committed in certain circumstances, it is punishable by society as a whole.
CONSENSUS & CONFLICT MODELS

3. Consensus & Conflict Models
Consensus Model
Majority agreement
People gather as a group, form a society together
Agree to what is right and wrong
Conflict Model
Larger societies
Diverse segments of society, different value systems/norms
Constant struggle between separated segments

4. The Purpose of the System
Three main goals
Control crime, prevent crime, provide/maintain justice
How does the system control crime?
Arrest, prosecute, punish
How does the system try to prevent crime?
Harsh punishment prevents others from committing a similar crime
How does the system provide and maintain justice?
Fairness
All people are equal before the law

5. The System Structure
Federalism- division of government: Federal, State, & Local
Local level
Crime is a local problem
Law enforcement: Local, State, Federal – all have their own structures
The Courts: dual court system, Federal/State courts
Federal: District, Circuit, Appellate, & Supreme Courts
State: Trial, Intermediate Appellate, & Supreme Courts
Corrections: State prisons, local jails, Federal prisons
Probation, strict sentences, incarceration, community corrections, parole

6. TV v. Reality Informal v. Formal Process of Justice (Herbert Packer)
Formal – THE IDEAL
Informal – THE REALITY
Why? Discretion
Discretion: 3 main reasons it is used
Resources not available to focus on every case
Remove pressures, time constraints
Cut down large caseloads

7. Due Process v. Crime Control
The battle between the two models.
Crime Control
Punish and stop criminal conduct – most important function
Conservative, tough on crime
Due Process
Protect rights of accused through legal constraints on police, courts and corrections
Liberal, open minded
Fairness should be the ultimate goal

8. Types of Crimes Crimes separated based on seriousness – 6 groups
Violent – crimes against persons
Murder, sexual assault, robbery, etc.
Property – most common form
Goal is economic gain
Shoplifting, theft w/out force
Public Order Crime
Public values and morals – public intoxication, gambling, victimless
White Collar Crime
Business world – economic/personal/business advantage (ex: embezzlement)
Organized Crime
Use of legal business facilities/employees to commit illegal acts
High Tech Crime
Latest type to emerge – cyber crimes, getting worse

9. Student Assessment
Review the following slides of current Criminal Justice Statistics in the United States.
Write your interpretation of the status of crime and punishment in the United States.
Write your interpretation of the status of crime and punishment in Florida: refer to the following web site

19. Florida Statistics

20. Sources https://www.census.gov/govs/cj/