Criminal Justice System - Essay Example

Criminal justice is the control of crime or its minimization through imposing criminal penalties and rehabilitation for the commission of crime. For crime to get controlled, a state puts up a criminal justice system to effectively cover all the different areas of crime; which may include: court system, prosecution, and police, among others. Those accused of committing a crime are regarded innocent, till proven guilty; they therefore are under protection of any form of mistreatment by the police or prosecution. In this essay, focus will be on various spheres of criminal justice and their effect on future professionals. I can describe criminal justice, generally as a collapse and disappointment from what we expect of it. In areas of a majority of white ethnic groups, their black ethnic counterparts are faced with high levels of discrimination as far as criminal justice is concerned; which leaves them helpless and fearful. Individuals from black ethnic groups are often regarded suspects in crimes they haven’t committed. With the increase in civil rights protection, there has been hardly any feel of it among the black ethnic group. For instance, an individual from the black ethnic group is most likely to face prison sentence as compared to one from the white ethnic group; when both are found guilty of using illegal drugs. There also are cases of lower police protection in black ethnic group neighborhoods as compared to their counterparts; which, therefore, is a clear indication of how much the criminal justice has failed. Despite the mentioned mistreatment of the black ethnic groups by some police, there are a number of policemen who make this career feel satisfying and worth pursuing. Being put in-charge of people’s lives to offer protection and serve the nation is something to take pride in. Some special agents and others in the field of criminal justice are also responsible for rehabilitation, protection of wildlife, the environment; which is a good feeling as they know that they are helping others. However, the field of criminal justice exposes one to heinous acts, as some officers have been found guilty of shooting people out of anger or mistreating others based on racial discrimination. It also is stressful being in this field as the country and her countrymen are full of expectations and one is, therefore, expected to maximally deliver. Before pursuing a career in this field, one is expected to be mentally prepared as it is a dangerous field but with high opportunities of growth. The study of JFK’s assassination has made clear to me, the loopholes in the criminal justice system that I am very much compelled to ensure they are taken care of; when I officially get into this profession. For instance, as a president, John F. Kennedy was not given adequate protection; which is the responsibility of the criminal justice system. The secret service agents are said to have been inadequately prepared for the president’s protection. Also, inadequate investigation by the Warren commission into the assassination, as to whether it was a conspiracy or not was conducted; which possibly means that there might have been some form of intimidation on the officers involved in the investigative process. It also did not make much difference terminating the secret service’s responsibility to investigate the assassination, as the federal bureau that took over, was not competent enough in fulfilling its mandate. As a future criminal justice professional, therefore, i believe that in order to mitigate crime, the criminal justice system has to faithfully carry out its mandate; which is by ensuring that not only the police, but all people are adequately protected and in cases of crime, proper investigation is carried out so that justice is earned in the end. With such a system in place, the world would be a better place for everyone. Following the Miranda v Arizona case, the police department that at some point was regarded lazy, incompetent and brutal is now considered more effective and admired by the public. Earlier, before this case, the police department was considered brutal in forcing confessions out of crime suspects. At this point, the police are faced with the responsibility of ensuring that they gather adequate information that will help them convict an individual in court; and not having their work simplified by having suspects confess and simply use that confession in court. Despite the fact that the Miranda warning has had many guilty criminals going free each year, it has helped in curbing unjust punishment for innocent individuals; in cases where force is used in getting confessions from suspects. There are cases where suspects do not understand their conviction rights or simply choose to ignore the Miranda warning; in a mid to have a lighter sentence or due to the guilt they have for having committed a crime. In such cases, the police department is allowed to use the confession given as valid evidence, in court and have the individual convicted; if the confession is given within six hours of their arrest, whether the suspect is informed of their Miranda rights, notwithstanding. As police officers, being cynical is not something that all choose to do, it happens over time. When police officers join police force, most of them are here to serve and at the same time trying to learn and understand their environment. Following the nature of their work; injuries from crime or death, they are quite stressed and disturbed as to whether they will successfully deliver to the expectations of their employer or finally disappoint them. This is during the first five years of service. In the later years, they are disappointed by what is happening around them and no longer wish to follow the rules anymore. They at this point believe that their happiness is more important and whether it is achieved through breaking rules or not, they have to seek it. This therefore causes them to become cynical and lose trust in anyone around them. It is the idea of being cynical that helps the police to cope with whatever they are going through at this point of their administration. However, there are a number of police who develop the cynical personality, long before joining police administration; and joining it simply provides an avenue for advancement of their cynical behavior. What is most exciting about criminal justice is the idea of crime and how behavior can be shaped after one goes through correctional facilities; prisons. Suspects of a crime are apprehended by the police and upon confession or evidence gathered, one is sent to prison. The main aim of prisons is to rehabilitate individuals into important people in the society and reduce crime rates in the country. Harmful people in the society have proven otherwise, upon rehabilitation; which really is interesting how correctional facilities can completely modify behavior. In this case, therefore, rehabilitation plays a major role in reforming individuals and mitigating crime in our society. In order for one to commit a crime, there must be a factor in their environment that perpetrates it. Rehabilitation centers understand this, which is why they provide an environment that can help alter these factors and bring total change in individuals. The interesting bit of rehabilitation is that, it assists both the offenders and the society; where offenders are offered skills and attitudes to live a productive life and avoid crime. Rehabilitation centers are, therefore, meant for treatment of offenders by looking at the cause of committing a crime and figuring out ways of dealing with it; which to me is interesting. It is, therefore, evident from the essay that criminal justice is still far from being at its best; which can be seen from the JFK’S assassination and the various injustices that people face today in criminal justice systems. There still are loopholes in the police administration and courts as far as justice is concerned; as some of those in prisons are the innocent while the guilty are out there enjoying their freedom, as a result of false accusations and forced confessions. There however are the Miranda rights that protect all suspects of crime and for those aware of these rights, receive fairer treatment and do not have to go through forced confessions. There however are some guilt suspects who would like to pay for their mistakes and therefore choose to ignore the Miranda rights. It is therefore our responsibility as a society to ensure that we elect the best of criminal justice professionals so that the criminal justice system serves to the best of our expectations. Read More