What is the criminal justice system

1
What is the criminal justice system?

• Dr. Matt Robinson
• CJ 3532
• Injustice in America
• Appalachian State University

2
System

• A system is a group of parts
• that make up a unified whole
• which is organized and harmonious
• and that serve a common purpose.

3
Thecriminal justice system

• The criminal justice system is the term for the
  interdependent parts of criminal justice
• Parts include
• Law-making
• Policing
• Judicial processes (courts)
• Punishment (corrections)

4
Is there a criminal justice system?

• NO these agencies of criminal justice are NOT
• unified
• organized and harmonious
• serving a common purpose

5
Is there a criminal justice system?

• Agencies of criminal justice have
• developed separately from each other
• different budgets
• different staffing needs/processes
• different training and education requirements
• DIFFERENT PURPOSES (see pp. 4-5)

6
The criminal justice network (CJN)

• Agencies of criminal justice
• Are better considered a NETWORK
• (agencies that are interdependent but not
  organized or harmonious)

7
All parts of criminal justice effect each other
(and depend on one another)
LAW Crime CORRECTIONS MEDIA
COURTS POLICE Source Adapted from
Robinson (2000 136)
8
Which part of Americas CJN is most important?

• Which receives the most resources?
• Which has the most employees?
• Police! (see pp. 21-23)

9
What does this mean?

• Police get more money and people to do their jobs
  
• Possible meanings?