Criminal justice is a complex system that is responsible for maintaining order, responding to criminal cases, and providing rehabilitation opportunities for offenders. This multifaceted system is made up of several pillars, including law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities. The field of criminal justice offers a variety of impactful career options for those with a passion for ensuring that the law is enforced equitably and fairly.
The first step in the criminal justice process is arraignment, where a defendant is charged with a crime and told of their rights. Defendants often enter pleas at this stage, which can range from not guilty to guilty. If a defendant is found guilty, the court decides what punishment, if any, they should receive. Typically, the punishment is based on the severity of the crime and the offender’s previous criminal history, reflecting a focus on retribution and deterrence.
Once a person is convicted, they are often sentenced to serve time in prison or other forms of confinement. The type and severity of punishment is influenced by several factors, including culpability, prior convictions, and the victim or victims’ experiences. Some convictions may also result in a fine, community service, or probation. Once a person has completed their term of imprisonment, they are often returned to society. Some people who are released from jail or parole are recalled to prison if they violate a condition of their release.
The criminal legal system can be unjust to people whose lives are affected by a wide range of issues, including poverty, mental illness, and housing instability. For example, behaviors like selling drugs are overpoliced in poor neighborhoods and severely punished with loss of freedom, while crimes committed against people who have little wealth, such as wage theft, are underpoliced and less harshly punish.