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Criminal Justice and Due Process

 

            Justice is defined as the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals; the quality of being just, impartial, or fair (Merriam-Webster, 2014). This to me is what I think of when I think of what justice should be. Equal treatment under the law is something that this country aspires to accomplish, but does not always meet. I realize that this is a rather cynical way of viewing the criminal justice system but for certain demographics in this country, the justice system is a source of despair as rather than a source of light and hope. One day, I would like to be a source of light for someone seeking justice for wrong done to them. Everyone seeking to better themselves by pursuing a degree in the criminal justice field should feel the same way.
             Police, courts, and corrections are identifiable as the main components of the criminal justice system (Intro to Criminal Justice, 2014). In order for the system to function effectively, all three factors must work together. Years past, the public played a role in the execution of justice, but with the advent of prosecutors, they assumed the role of making sure an offender was brought to justice. First in line are the police. They are the first responders to an incident; conducting investigations, seeing if probable cause for an arrest exists, and making arrests. Once the police are finished with their investigation, they give the case to the prosecutor's office; also known as the District Attorney. .
             The DA will formally charge the defendant with whatever crime they were accused of committing. In some cases, the prosecutor will make slight adjustments to the charges originally levied by the police after a review of the facts and the evidence. The next stage in the process generally involves a plea agreement, in which the defense and the prosecution try to reach a deal on a possible lesser charge in order to avoid a lengthy trial or any further proceedings (Introduction to Criminal Justice, 2014).


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