Consideration Given to a Person’s Background or Life Circumstances in the Criminal Justice System
Criminal justice professionals seek to serve citizens. This focus on service requires a more nuanced approach to understanding citizen problems. If in the past, the criminal justice system seemed to view crime as a simple either-or choice, contemporary society has highlighted the complexity behind the choices that citizens make. Understanding those choices requires empathy, which in turn requires understanding the viewpoints and biases all professionals bring to their fields—including your own. In this first Journal entry, you respond to a prompt that begins a process of reflection on your own positions.
In 1–2 paragraphs, respond to the following:
How much consideration should be given to a person’s background or life circumstances when decisions are made at critical points in the criminal justice system (e.g., decision to arrest, specific charges, decision to prosecute, sentencing, re-entry plan)?
Week 1 Journal
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Week 1 Journal
The primary objectives of a criminal justice system are to rehabilitate offenders, punish them, and protect society. In particular, some demographics, such as Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to be convicted than their white counterparts. In some cases, felonies from such communities are given harsh sentences or imprisoned for an extended period (Veiga, Pina-Sanchez, & Lewis, 2023). In that light, the criminal justice system should consider an individual’s life circumstances or background when deciding whether to arrest a person, prosecute, sentence, charge, or re-entry plan. In some instances, considering life circumstances and individuals’ backgrounds can help the criminal justice system to make fair decisions for the offenders and victims. For example, some people might engage in crime due to