The Criminal Justice Process
Barbara Parshall
Dr. Douglas Brinkley
Abstract
The American criminal justice process is compiled of various different avenues. There is a complex course of action that takes place. It begins once a crime has been committed and the investigation has begun. It can go in many different directions from there. Is there enough evidence to charge the offender? Will the defendant plead guilty? Will they be sentenced to time in prison or released on parole? With various situations and circumstances cases may often have very different results. Ultimately I believe that in the process the common goal is for justice to be served. In this writing I will go through this procedure to give a brief description of what this process entails and what the criminal justice process looks like. I believe it will also exemplify how this process goes to great lengths to protect individual’s rights even the offenders themselves. In this I hope to give the reader a fresh perspective on the American justice process.
The Criminal Justice Process
The first step in the criminal justice process is an investigation. Evidence is gathered at which time an arrest may occur or an arrest warrant may be issued by a judge. “An arrest warrant provides legal basis for apprehension by the police” (Schmallegar, 2011, p.18). After a suspect has been arrested they will then be booked. A booking is administrative procedure which records information about the arrest and the suspect. The suspect is also advised of their rights at this time.
The next stage in the criminal justice process is the pretrial activities. Shortly after an arrest the suspect will be brought in front of a judge where he will be told of his charges. At this point the judge may offer bail. Bail is money or property that serves as collateral against flight. If a crime is serious enough they are not even given this opportunity. It is also important to note that at this point if... [continues]
Barbara Parshall
Dr. Douglas Brinkley
Abstract
The American criminal justice process is compiled of various different avenues. There is a complex course of action that takes place. It begins once a crime has been committed and the investigation has begun. It can go in many different directions from there. Is there enough evidence to charge the offender? Will the defendant plead guilty? Will they be sentenced to time in prison or released on parole? With various situations and circumstances cases may often have very different results. Ultimately I believe that in the process the common goal is for justice to be served. In this writing I will go through this procedure to give a brief description of what this process entails and what the criminal justice process looks like. I believe it will also exemplify how this process goes to great lengths to protect individual’s rights even the offenders themselves. In this I hope to give the reader a fresh perspective on the American justice process.
The Criminal Justice Process
The first step in the criminal justice process is an investigation. Evidence is gathered at which time an arrest may occur or an arrest warrant may be issued by a judge. “An arrest warrant provides legal basis for apprehension by the police” (Schmallegar, 2011, p.18). After a suspect has been arrested they will then be booked. A booking is administrative procedure which records information about the arrest and the suspect. The suspect is also advised of their rights at this time.
The next stage in the criminal justice process is the pretrial activities. Shortly after an arrest the suspect will be brought in front of a judge where he will be told of his charges. At this point the judge may offer bail. Bail is money or property that serves as collateral against flight. If a crime is serious enough they are not even given this opportunity. It is also important to note that at this point if... [continues]
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"The Criminal Justice Process." StudyMode.com. 10, 2011. Accessed 10, 2011. http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Criminal-Justice-Process-813415.html.
