The United States’ criminal justice system is comprised of three parts. The first is law enforcement or policing. The initial contact between a criminal and the justice system involves the police. They will look into the suspected crime, involving investigations such as fraud investigation, and place the criminal under arrest. Police officials are allowed to use force when necessary. Criminal investigation is a very wide and general term, encompassing many facets of law enforcement. Primarily however, policing is associated with maintaining order and the provision of services.
The second component of the criminal justice system is the courts. This is where trials and disputes play out and come to a settlement. The court is the site at which the system administers justice. There are many important figures involved in a court ruling, including the magistrate, the prosecutor and the defense attorney. It is up to the judge to remain objective and give a final ruling on the case.
The guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by the adversarial system. Two parties state their side of the events that transpired and are given the chance to argue their case. Whichever party gives the most legally sound argument will win favor. The prosecutor will bring the charges against the accused and explain the pertinent evidence available. The defense attorney advises the accused party, who decides how to testify. Any accused individual is entitled to an attorney in the United States. If the accused’s life or freedoms are at stake, the government will pay for a defense attorney. The final decision is arrived at with the counsel of a disinterested third party, usually a jury panel of citizens.
Lastly, the third component of the system is corrections. Offenders found guilty are often sent to correctional institutions. The most common form of punishment today is prison. A prison is a center for detainment of prisoners after trial and a jail is an institution to contain the accused. Incarceration keeps a criminal removed from the general population and prevents them from being able to continue with criminal activity. Rehabilitation plays a big role in modern prisons as well. Other forms of punishment in place of, or in addition to incarceration include fines, probation and house arrest. In extreme cases, capital punishment is still used.
