Criminal Justice

Introduction

A Criminal Justice System is multidimensional and the components within it must work harmoniously and with a common purpose if the system is to be effective and efficient. The Virtual City criminal justice system is charged with preventing crime in its jurisdiction while using the appropriate laws to apprehend, sentence, and imprison those who participate in criminal activity and break the law (Kalinich, Stojkovic, & Klofas, 2014). Any given situation can require interagency functionality in order to ensure a successful approach to criminal prevention and correction. Regardless of the number of agencies or parties used in the criminal justice system, it is quite imperative that there is effectual coordination between all entities to ensure that criminal activity is suppressed quickly and effectively.

Virtual Criminal Justice Alliance

The case of Virtual Criminal Justice Alliance presents an ideal situation where the components of the system are put to task in dealing with criminal activities in Virtual City. At the core of criminal activities is the group identified as Very Bad Bike Club (VBBC) which has a wide criminal network that requires Virtual Police Department (VPD) to embark on a series of intensive investigation in regards to their activity. The objective of VPD is to uncover the activities of the club and possibly apprehend and charge every member of the group for crimes such as robbery, illegal possession of guns and other infringements. However, two crucial components of criminal justice system, the Grand Jury and the Office of the District Attorney, have been unable to effectively prosecute criminal activity due to a lack of shared information and subpar investigative tactics. The reason why the criminal activities of the club have thrived for a prolonged period is because of the lack of coordinated efforts of all agencies to arrest, charge, and convict felons and gather incriminating information or intelligence from the gang both inside and out of jail. The inability of the alliance to function as multiple entities with a common objective is both detrimental and unproductive, giving a criminal gang the ability to continually reorganize and reconstruct their hierarchy.

The Virtual prosecutor’s office had previously dismissed the charges brought to the office by VPD as being inadmissible or has reduced them to trivial charges due to lack of comprehensive investigation. Others have been charged and taken to prison but are able to flourish while incarcerated due to a jaded correctional organization that would prefer to minimize violence even if it means turning a blind eye to criminal activity inside the prison. With Major Irongate benefiting from the control of the prison by the gang, it creates an environment that is conducive to criminal activity and the absence of backing from other agencies leaves the VPD to combat the gang on its own. Those who are released and are on parole continue to disregarding the rules by maintaining constant communication with other criminals both inside and outside of prison. In general, Very Bad Bike Club is comprised of members that have created an entrepreneurship based on illegal activities covering a broad spectrum. Buddy Pole, the leader of VBBC, continues to organize the criminal business even while incarcerated at Virtual Detention Center. Pole has been able to consistently oversee the criminal rings because of the corruption of members of the criminal justice system such as corrections officers and those police officers that continue to conduct investigations in a haphazard manner by waywardly collecting ineffectual evidence. In prison VBBC in conjunction with other gangs, is effectively doing what has been eluding the Criminal Justice Alliance; the ability to work with other organizations to reach a successful collaborative plan to gain victory.

As the Chief Criminal Prosecutor, it is imperative that there is a dynamic working relationship with all agencies, but especially the Police Department that will be instrumental in apprehending criminals and preventing criminality in Virtual City. Because of the criticality of the relationship, it is vital that they understand the importance of sharing information, collecting evidence, and conducting interrogations correctly. When the appropriate steps are not taken to apprehend suspects it becomes a financial burden to the city and the state and forces the acceptance of plea bargains.

Along with added training on correct tactics, VPD will also need to utilize outside entities that have a vested interest in joining the concerted effort in quashing this ever-growing issue. An example would be the use of such organizations as the Virtual Commercial Merchants Association to provide assistance to the VPD in terms of security infrastructure. Both organizations would have the objective of carrying out a comprehensive investigation on VBBC and also to reduce crime activity in the area. In such high operational projects that involves a lot of risk, it is important to have a concrete plan that also addresses the risks and how to overcome them. When addressing the mediocre competences of VPD a proactive approach must be taken that incites creating a fundamental framework based on the correct training and utilization of law enforcement officers. In order to be an asset to the Attorney General’s office detectives must have a clear understanding of their duties, and the requirements that are placed on the prosecutors in order to effectively try a case. This will be beneficial to all agencies that have stake in dismantling the gang and removing criminal activity from the community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, criminal justice system is an intricate part of the legal and social environment and the Alliance will only be successful if all departments work to accomplish the common goal of suppressing the Very Bad Biker Club. If the agencies are unable to work together there will be a gap within the system, and it will increase the chances of diminishing each independent agency’s efforts resulting in substandard performance. It is clear that one agency alone cannot correct or prevent criminal activity and in order to stop the trend of lawbreaking an alliance must be created and adhered to.

References

Kalinich, D. B., Stojkovic, S., & Klofas, J. (2014). Toward a Political-Community Theory of Prison Organization. Journal of Criminal Justice, 16(3), 217-230.