Formal Justice System
What is the criminal justice system?
the law enforcement, court, and correctional agencies that work together to affect the apprehension, prosecution, and control of criminal offenders
Definition of the Informal Criminal Justice System
It's viewed as a series of formal decision points - when someone has discretion over your actions: tend to address a wide range of issues of significant concern to the people
How is crime measured?
UCR - Uniform Crime Report: accuracy is questionable, only represents reported crimes (number value) *there are more unreported crimes than reported ones*
NIBRS - National Incident-Based Reporting System: an exact duplicate of the UCR, matches the numbers of the UCR - gives a more comprehensive report of a crime, requires a brief account of each incident/arrest
NCVS - National Crime Victimization Survey: victim's experience, unbiased, a survey conducted 2 times a year from a large sample of households/individuals, data used to estimate the total amount of crime
The most serious crimes punishable by long imprisonment and even death
Felony
The Patrol Function (background)
Uniform police officers account for 2/3 of a department's personnel and serve several purposes: Deter crime, Maintain public order, Respond rapidly, Identify/apprehend violators, Provide care to people in need, Facilitate movement of traffic, Create a feeling of security in the community
What is the criminal justice process?
the decision-making points from the initial investigation or arrest by police to the eventual release of the offender and his or her reentry to society
Just a note
In reality, cases are often settled informally through cooperative agreements - plea bargaining, discretion, desire to preserve resources for more serious cases
What are some crime trends?
Gender Patterns: males are arrested more frequently than females, males account for about 80% of all arrests for serious violent crimes
Racial Patterns: members of minority groups are involved in a disproportionate share of criminal activity, racial profiling targets minority groups who are believed to be more likely engaged in criminal activity
Social Class Patterns: limited opportunities produce stress and strain that may cause residents to relieve frustration through crime, socially disorganized neighborhoods are unable to informally control the behaviors of their residents, law enforcement agencies tend to focus more resources on poorer neighborhoods
Victim Patterns: gender, age, income, marital status, race, ecological factors, victim-offender relationships, repeat victimization
Less serious crimes that are punishable by a sentence to jail or a fine
Misdemeanor
The Patrol Function's Function
To respond to calls for assistance and reports of criminal activity
Improving patrol - proactive policing and directed patrol, Making arrests, Rapid response, Broken windows policing, Using technology
Formal Justice System Group 1
Initial contact
Investigation
Arrest: in-presence requirement
Custody
Charging
Preliminary hearing/grand jury
Arraignment
4 layer wedding cake
Level 1 - Celebrated Cases
Level 2 - Serious Felonies
Level 3 - Less Serious Felonies
Level 4 - Misdemeanors
Examples of Felonies
Burglary - the unlawful entry into a building with the intent to commit a crime
Arson - when an individual maliciously burns or chars property
Drug posession - posession of firearms, certain controlled substances
The Investigation Function
How do detectives detect? - rely on interviews + forensic evidence to flesh out a narrative of the crime and experience
Sting Operation - an undercover police operation in which police pose as criminals to trap violaters - tactic
Improving investigation with technology - information technology, record storage, DNA profiling
Improving investigations with forensic science - use of scientific techniques to investigate crime and solve cases, a broad range of scientific techniques and ability, with new technologies emerging: toxicology, blood pattern analysis, trace evidence
Formal Justice System Group 2
Bail/detention
Plea bargaining
Trial/Adjudication
Sentencing/Disposition
Appeal/Post-conviction
Correctional treatment
Release
Post Release
Examples of Misdemeanors
Petty theft
Petty larceny
Shoplifting
Community-Oriented Policing
Purpose - programs, and strategies designed to bring police and the community closer together and create a more cooperative working environment between them
Foot patrol - one of the most common approaches; forming a bond with the community, increases feeling of safety and decreases fear
The Kansas City Project - a comprehensive experiment to analyze the effectiveness of routine police patrol
Formal Justice System Group/Step 3
The criminal justice assembly line: some view the process as an assembly line in a factory - conveyer belt = endless supply of cases
Problem-Oriented Policing
Closely associated with community-oriented policing
stresses proactive problem-solving and developing long-term community solutions - people are the biggest source
Support functions - personnel, internal affairs, training, community services, specialized crime prevention units