Criminal Justice System

Criminal Justice System

Crime, Its Relationship to the Law, And Two Models to Determine the Crime

A crime is the commission of the act or an act itself that is prohibited by the law. It also includes the omission of an act that is regulated by public law. The offender of crime is punishable by law. The definition of the law varies according to place and time. In simple term, crime is the deviation from the standards set by the society. Law provides the ideal states of affairs and it is used as the standards to assess whether an act is a crime or not. In the absence of the law, one cannot explain an act as a crime and therefore the committer of an act cannot be punished (Cole et al., 2012).

Crime control model and due process models are used to determine an act as a crime. Both of the models are also used to reduce the crime rate. According to crime control model through effective policing and increased prosecution power the crime can be reduced. This model is based on the assumption that criminal behaviour is the source of the crime and it can be controlled by imposing harsh punishments and incarceration. The due process model to determine an act as a crime is based on the principle that the rights of the citizens are absolute, and the citizens cannot be deprived of their basic liberty or property rights without performing appropriate and due process.

Government Structure for Criminal Justice System

The structure of government to control the criminal justice system is comprised of different agencies which work at local, federal and state level. All three organs of governments which are executive, judiciary and legislative work with each other in relation to prevent handle the crime. The three major part of structure of criminal justice systems are; Policing department, Courts and Corrections. Policing includes all law enforcement agencies which maintain law and order situation. In courts accusers are tried in accordance to specific laws. In correction centres, criminals are brought after completing the legal process of the courts. Where criminals are punished and rehabilitated. Corrections centres include prisons, jails and halfway houses.

Choice Theories and Their Assumptions

Choice theories provide the causation of the crime and explain that crime is the result of the conscious and deliberate choice. Offender commits crime only when he/she believe that the associated cost of committing ...