Criminal Justice System Overview

US law enforcement is organized into three levels: local, state, and federal.

Local police agencies typically focus on protecting life and property, enforcing laws, preventing crime, keeping the peace, arresting criminals, and serving communities.

Sheriffs, elected officials, are often part of local law enforcement and may perform court duties, unlike local police chiefs.

State police agencies focus on state-level laws and can investigate crimes throughout the state, frequently focusing on road-related crimes or issues.

Federal law enforcement agencies are often part of Homeland Security, though other federal departments may also have their own policing elements.

Enforces federal law, investigating federal crimes, including those crossing state lines or affecting national security.

Misuse of police authority for personal gain.

Individual police officers engaging in corrupt activities without others knowing.

A small group of officers working together in corrupt activity.

Many "rotten apples" engaging in corruption, becoming typical of a police agency.

Highly organized, including many officers in corrupt activity, usually the worst type.

Police officers who accept illegal benefits passively.

Police officers who aggressively solicit and obtain illegal favors.

Prosecutors are responsible for bringing criminal charges against individuals accused of violating the law. They work in county offices and are often called district attorneys (DAs).

The lead prosecutor, elected by the county, oversees a staff of lawyers who handle criminal cases in court.

Prosecutors have significant power to decide who to charge, what offenses to charge, and whether to accept plea bargains.

Defense attorneys represent individuals accused of crimes, ensuring their rights are protected, advising them on their options, and preparing a strong defense.

Defendants with financial means can hire private attorneys, while those who cannot afford it are assigned a public defender.

A court proceeding where a judge reviews evidence to determine if there's enough to move forward with a trial.

A group of citizens that reviews evidence to decide if there's enough to formally accuse someone of a crime.

A formal accusation of a crime issued by a grand jury.

A formal court proceeding where the defendant is read the charges and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.

The process of exchanging relevant information about a case between the prosecution and the defense.

Evidence that could help the defendant by showing their innocence or reducing their guilt.

A deal between the defendant and the prosecution where the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.

A request to the judge to exclude certain evidence from being used at trial.

The constitutional right to a trial that happens promptly.

The process of choosing the group of people who will listen to the evidence and decide the verdict.

Probation is a court-ordered alternative to prison where you remain in the community, while parole is a supervised release from prison.

The public's lack of awareness about the correctional system creates a gap in understanding and meaningful conversations about its policies.

Correctional institutions are secure facilities that house individuals accused or convicted of crimes. These include jails (short-term, county-operated) and prisons (long-term, state or federal).

Jail is a short-term facility for defendants awaiting trial or serving short sentences, while prison is a long-term facility for those convicted of crimes.

People in jail often haven't been convicted of a crime, are waiting for trial, cannot afford bail, or are serving short sentences.

Rehabilitation programs in jails are often difficult to implement due to the high turnover of the inmate population.

In the early days, jails were used to hold those awaiting trial, punishment, or those unable to pay debts, not as the primary form of punishment.

Three main models of correctional institutions emerged in the 19th century in America.

A place where individuals are isolated from the outside world and their lives are tightly controlled by the institution. This control extends to all aspects of daily life, including what they eat, wear, and do.

The process by which individuals in a total institution lose their sense of personal identity and are stripped of their individual characteristics.

The five negative experiences that inmates face in a total institution, as described by Gresham Sykes. These include deprivation of liberty, goods & services, heterosexual relationships, autonomy, and security.

A form of punishment that allows an offender to remain in the community instead of going to prison, under the supervision of a probation officer and subject to specific conditions.

Correctional alternatives that are used as a response to violations of probation or parole, ranging from boot camps to electronic monitoring, with a focus on stricter supervision and potentially higher consequences.