Cja 204 - Criminal Justice

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Group ID: AUCJA0810B

CJA/204

RENEE RAY

24 AUGUST 2010

The criminal Justice system has three components, police, courts, and corrections. Each of these elements is equally important. The beginning of the process begins with the Police. The police are responsible for enforcing the laws governed by local, city, state and federal agencies. The Webster Dictionary defines crime as " an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law; especially : a gross violation of law."

One of the major responsibilities of the police is to maintain good order and discipline in the community, however there is a great deal of citizens that choose to commit crimes.

The Webster Dictionary defines crime as " an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law; especially : a gross violation of law." The police must arrest citizens and do the initial entry of processing them through the Criminal Justice System.

There are many categories and classifications of crimes. There are several steps the police must follow; once they verify a crime has been committed. Classifications and categories will be the determining factor on how the perpetrator is processed through the system. Two of the major classifications groups of crime are misdemeanors and felonies. Each state across America has penal codes that set the guidelines for what determines if the crime is a misdemeanor of felony. The Justice System is equipped to define the appropriate action needed to punish the criminals that commit a variety of crimes. Robbery, Murder, larceny, and Kidnapping are great examples of crimes classified in the felony category. Shop lifting, public intoxication and public nudity a few examples of misdemeanors. The police lay the foundation to prepare the alleged criminals for step two of the Criminal Justice Process.

The courts are the second step, considered to be the most critical aspect of the process. Webster dictionary defines court as "the sovereign and officers and advisers who are the governing power", in this case it's the governing of the court of law. The Court process is broken down in three different sub-components, prosecution/ pre-trial services, adjudication and sentencing and sanctions. The following steps are must be followed to ensure the rights of the accused are being protected by the Bill of rights and the constitution. Each criminal will deal with a different