Reflection Paper
Kevin 1997
05-CriminalJusticeSystem.pptxSSC 200: Understanding & Preventing Wrongful Convictions
Introduction to the criminal justice system
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Criminal Justice System
Multilevel institution with two overarching goals:
Protection of citizens from crime
Investigate criminal behavior
Punish/rehabilitate offenders
Protection of citizens’ rights
Privacy & unlawful search/seizure
Harassment
Self-incrimination (Miranda rights)
Detention/imprisonment
Sometimes these goals are at odds.
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Structure of the CJS
Law Enforcement
Many different levels
Local, sheriff (county), & state police
FBI, CIA, DEA, ATF, NSA, etc.
Protection against crime
Investigation of criminal behavior
Collect physical evidence
Conduct witness interviews & identifications
Suspect selection, interviewing, interrogation
Arrests
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Structure of the CJS
Courts (Judiciary):
Local, state, and federal levels
Prosecutor/district attorney decides whether to pursue case
Plea bargaining
May present evidence to grand jury (if crime is serious)
Case proceeds to trial
Adversarial in nature
Prosecutor vs. defense attorney
Triers of fact
Jury trials or bench trials
“Innocent until proven guilty”
Burden of proof depends on trial, usually “beyond reasonable doubt”
Guilty verdicts sentencing decision
Juries (capital cases) or judges (all other criminal cases)
Decisions may be appealed to higher courts
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Structure of the CJS
Corrections
Prisons, jails, detention centers
Parole & probation officers
Punish, rehabilitate, reintegrate offenders into society
Victims’ Services
Advocacy groups, counseling services, shelters, transitional housing, 24-hour hotlines
Exoneration advocacy groups
newer area, underdeveloped
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CJS vs. Science
Science: what happens, generally?
CJS: what happened in this particular case?
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Criminal Justice Errors
The Criminal Justice System makes mistakes.
The guilty may be acquitted.
The innocent may be convicted.
Jail time
Execution
Innocence Project
http://www.innocenceproject.org
National Registry of Exonerations
http://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/about.aspx
American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS, APA Div. 41)
www.ap-ls.org [ http://ap-ls.org/students/ ]
Social science can help identify error-prone procedures.
Recommend changes to reduce errors
Often CANNOT comment on the accuracy of specific cases at trial
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