Chapter 1: An Introduction to Crime and the Criminal Justice System (CRJU 101) Lecture PDF

CRJU 101 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Crime and the Criminal Justice System  2 © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  Criminal justice system...

CRJU 101 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Crime and the Criminal Justice System  2 © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  Criminal justice system (CJS) comprises institutions, policies, and practices with the What Is the Criminal goal of social control and deterring crime through sanctions and rehabilitation. Justice System? (1 of  The CJS has three primary components: 5) Law enforcement. Courts. Corrections.  3 Law enforcement: investigates crimes and apprehends individuals alleged to have committed crimes. What Is the Criminal Justice Courts: interpret and apply the law. System? (2 of 5) Corrections: incarceration in jails or prisons, in some cases consisting of supervision in the community, parole, or probation. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  4 Size of the System CJS is huge and very costly. What Is the Large proportions of juveniles and Criminal Justice adults are under the control of the System? (3 of CJS. By the end of 2016, more than 6.6 5) million adults were being supervised in jails, prisons, or on parole. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  5 Gender, Race, and Hispanic Origin in the System Men and people of color are What Is the imprisoned at higher rates. Criminal Justice Personal characteristics of the System? (4 of offender and victim affect harshness of punishment. 5) © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  6 What Is the Criminal Justice System? (5 of 5) The Cost of the Criminal Justice System In 2013, the criminal justice system employed 2.4 million people at a cost of $212 billion. Each person in the United States paid $670 in 2013 to support the CJS. Scarcity of resources and overcrowding have prompted discussion of alternatives. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  7 A Road Map A crime becomes known to the police. Police investigate, identify, and apprehend the offender. How Does the Criminal Information gathered is presented to Justice the prosecutor. System Prosecutor files charges: plea bargain, Work? (1 of trial, or nolle prosequi. 5) Arraignment: defendant appears before judge, where charges and rights are read. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  8 A Road Map Defendant enters a plea: guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere. How Does the Trial: prosecution and defense Criminal present evidence and question witnesses. Justice System Conclusion of trial: conviction or Work? (2 of 5) acquittal. Sentencing decided by judge or jury (in some capital cases). © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  9 The Victim Is missing from the classic road map of CJS. May require medical care, emotional How Does the and psychological support, and/or Criminal assistance with insurance agencies. Justice System Victim advocates: trained Work? (3 of 5) professionals who direct crime victims to emotional, psychological, or financial support. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  10 Crime and the Importance of Personal Liberties To ensure the greatest good for the How Does the greatest number, legislation is Criminal required to prohibit certain behaviors Justice System (ensuring inalienable rights). Work? (4 of 5) Judicial activism occurs when decisions are influenced by personal and political factors. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  11 Crime and the Importance of Personal How Does Liberties the Criminal Increased criminalization of behavior is Justice linked to greater loss of personal System freedoms. Work? (5 of USA PATRIOT Act and USA Freedom Act 5) exemplify this relationship. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  12 Street Crimes Involve a victim and offender in same place and time. Include homicide, rape, What Is a assault, etc. Crime? (1 of 3) Property Crimes Are more common than street crimes. Include motor vehicle theft, burglary, and property theft. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  13 Victimless Crimes Involve illegal behavior that does not affect another person. Include prostitution, drug What Is a use, and gambling. Crime? (2 of White-Collar Crimes 3) Are committed by occupational, corporate, or government professionals. Include bribery, fraud, price fixing, and insider trading. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  14 Cybercrime Is committed using a computer or computer networks. Includes network What Is a infiltrations, viruses, etc. Crime? (3 of Terrorism 3) Is committed by subnational or extremist groups. Targets noncombatants. Has the purpose of influencing an audience. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  15 Crimes are classified as: Crime Mala in se: behavior that is immoral and inherently wrong Definitions by nature. Change Over Mala prohibita: behavior that is prohibited by law. Time (1 of 3) Which categories the crimes fall under may change over time (decriminalization). © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  16 Justifiable Homicide Castle doctrine, “make my day” laws. Self-defense, defending Crime others, and state- sanctioned executions. Definitions Change Over Adultery Time (2 of 3) Originally, sex between a married woman and a non-spouse partner. Wide decriminalization across states. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  17 Driving Under the Influence Increased criminalization. Community organizations Crime like MADD. Definitions Change Over Rape Time (3 of 3) Mala in se crime. Broadening of legal definition. Distinctions from “sexual assault” and “sexual abuse.” © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  18 Crime Control Offenders should be harshly punished to prevent crime. The Criminal Research shows crime control is Justice System: ineffective. Purpose and Rehabilitation Perspectives (1 CJS should care for and treat people of 3) who cannot take care of themselves. Education, training and social skills should be provided. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  19 Due Process CJS must ensure all accused of crimes are treated fairly and equally. The Criminal Due process is based on U.S. Justice System: Constitution. Purpose and Restorative Justice Perspectives (2 CJS should repair the harm caused by of 3) criminal behavior. Offenders should “pay” for their crimes. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  20 Nonintervention The Criminal Justice CJS should be involved as minimally as System: possible. Purpose and Stigma of CJS interaction results in self- Perspectives fulfilling prophecy. (3 of 3) © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  21 Consensus Model Everyone works together to achieve justice. There is general agreement about what behaviors are Criminal harmful to the majority of the public. Justice and Public Policy Conflict Model CJS reflects struggle between haves and have- nots. Those with power define what is criminal. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  22 Framing Presentations that simplify information. Faulty criminal justice frame: crimes are Crime and committed because criminals feel they the Media can get away with it. (1 of 3) Blocked opportunities frame: crime results from lack of legal opportunities among offenders. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  23 Framing Social breakdown frame: crime is an obvious result of a breakdown in family and community. Racist system frame: CJS, law Crime and the enforcement, courts, and Media (2 of 3) corrections which are depicted as racist agents of oppression. Violent media frame: crime is a result of the violence in television, movies, video games, and music. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  24 Infotainment Is highly edited and distorted. Purports to be truthful and comprehensive. Crime and the Narrow-Casting Presents a narrow view of Media (3 of 3) information in the media. Has a small homogeneous audience. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021  25  Criminal justice refers to the system (law enforcement, courts, Criminal Justice and corrections). Versus  Criminology refers to the study of the nature, extent, causes of Criminology criminal offending, and criminal victimization. © SAGE Publications, Inc., 2021