This chapter broadly describes the criminal justice system in the United States as well as the court system which operate under jurisdiction. Jurisdiction refers to the condition in which courts and other judicial systems work as situated by the constitution and without interference from other government bodies. In America’s court system, there exist the federal courts and state courts and the courts functions are dictated by the criminal justice of American. The nation’s founder’s agreement gave rise to the dual-court system. This system ensures that judicial and legislative authority which is distinct from the federal interference is retained. The criminal justice in the U.S is divided into the police, prosecutions, courts and the correction through which criminals are detected, investigated and brought to the law (Schmalleger, 2016).
Once charges are filed, the criminal court ensures speedy and fair trials. If the defendant is convicted, which may be by jury trial or solely by the court, one is sentenced in reference to the criminal statutes in the jurisdiction most of the courts use sentencing reports from the probation office or other sources, but in most cases, the supreme court encourages the individualization of sentences. Non-judicial release and detention mechanisms such as jail administrators bail schedules, bond agents, pretrial services agents-just to mention a few, are applied. Correction agencies carry out the sentences of the criminal courts. Alternative methods such as Fines and restriction orders are also applied and which are enforced through the judicial system. Recently, community service, electronic monitoring and more creative sentencing strategies have been used which are administered by the traditional correction agencies.
Ultimately, the criminal justice system has jurisdiction over crimes which affect the community as a whole. Through adjudication, it upholds legal processes and ensures evidence review and fair trials. The sole reason for its establishment is to put an end to all forms of impunities for the perpetrators of these crimes and as well contribute to their prevention.
References
Schmalleger, F. (2016). The courts. In Criminal justice: A brief introduction (11th ed.). Boston: Pearson, [2016].
