The Importance of the Criminal Justice System

The Importance of the Criminal Justice System
Roman P. Anilao
Moorpark College University
Criminal Justice M01
Prof. Robert C. Camarillo
Date
The Importance of the Criminal Justice System
Crime has been a characteristic of the human race from the time man has existed on earth. Since the time of ancient Egyptian and Greeks, documents have shown that a criminal justice system existed with an aim of minimizing and eradicating criminal behavior in society. The efforts to end crime in society have been unattainable up to the modern society equipped with technologically advanced methods of fighting crime (Garside, 2008). On the contrary, things that have greatly contributed to development like globalization and technology has brought new types of crimes, which are more difficult to prevent, and have posed a challenge to criminal justice systems all over the world. The increase in intensity, sophistication, and scope of crime all over the world has posed a serious threat to citizens everywhere. Moreover, crime has interfered with economic progress in many countries (Garside, 2008).
The importance of the criminal justice system in any society is to prevent crime, which the main threat to the safety of the public, and interferes with economic, political and social development. The importance of the criminal justice system is seen in maintaining order, whereby the criminal justice system clearly stipulates what the individual expects from others in order to avoid chaos (National Center for Victims of Crime, 2012). Second, the importance of the criminal justice system is seen in dispute resolution whereby the criminal justice system to resolve disputes among quarrelling parties in society in a peaceful and orderly manner. The criminal justice system is also important to society because it protects individuals and their property. In doing this, the criminal justice system protects citizens from physical or individuals who would take their earthly possessions. This is especially true in capitalistic societies like the U.S where the criminal justice system intends to punish those who steal (Garside, 2008).
Another importance of the criminal justice system is that it enables smooth functioning of society. The criminal justice system is what enables governments to collect taxes, control unwanted activities like pollution, and achieve other functions that are socially beneficial. Lastly, the importance of the criminal justice system is also seen in its ability to safeguard civil liberties. In the U.S the criminal justice system serves three important functions which include investigating, prosecuting, and punishing crimes (National Center for Victims of Crime, 2012). In each state in the U.S, and within the federal system there are two distinct codes that guide the activities of the criminal justice system, which are the code of criminal procedure and the code of criminal law. The function of the code of criminal procedure is to define how criminal offenders will be prosecuted for a crime and how they would be punished in the event they are convicted (United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, 2013).
On the other hand, the code of criminal law stipulates what constitutes crime within a certain jurisdiction. Basically, the importance of the criminal justice system is to avail justice to all in society by convicting and punishing those who are guilty and rehabilitating them so that they stop offending, while at the same time protecting the innocent (University of Bergen, 2012). However, the main challenge most societies face is making the criminal justice system and the processes related to dealing with criminals more effective and efficient. Apart from preventing crime, punishing offenders, and ensuring justice for all, another importance of the criminal justice system sees it its ability to protect citizens from the oppression from the state and other parties with vested interests (National Center for Victims of Crime, 2012).
In protecting citizens from the possibility of being oppressed by the state, the criminal justice system act as an instrument of check and balances in society. In fact, there are scholars who emphasize on the importance of the criminal justice system as a mechanism of check and ambulances as opposed to an instrument of crime control (UNODC, 2013). Herbert Packer, an American legal scholar was the first to identify the competing interests within the criminal justice system of acting as an instrument of crime control and ensuring checks and balances. As an instrument of crime control, Packer argued that the importance of the criminal justice system is to restrain and repress criminal behavior in society. If a criminal justice system successfully detects, prosecute, convict offenders, then it can be termed effective (Daly, 2011).
Most of criminal justice systems discharge their role through five components, which include law-enforcement, prosecution, defense, courts, and correctional facilities. Each of these components plays an important in the criminal justice system and in ensuring public safety. An offender comes into first contact with the criminal justice system through law-enforcement agencies that are charged with the responsibility of investigating the crime committed by a suspect and makes an arrest (Daly, 2011). Law enforcement agencies are legally permitted to employ force and other instruments of coercion in order maintain public and social order. Law-enforcement agencies are important to the criminal justice system and society as a whole because they assist in maintaining peace and ensuring that citizens obey laws within their jurisdictions. Law enforcement officers collect crime reports within their ju...