The Judiciary Is An Important Part Of The Criminal Justice S
The Judiciary Is An Important Part Of The Criminal Justice System Aft
The judiciary is an important part of the criminal justice system. After police arrest an individual, an extensive chain of events is set off in the American court system. Explain the booking procedure to your classmates. How does it work and who is involved? Only a handful of cases result in a jury trial.
Outline the steps involved in a criminal trial. Why do so few cases end up going to trial? Initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.
Paper For Above instruction
The criminal justice system in the United States operates through a series of carefully structured procedures designed to ensure justice is served efficiently and fairly. Central to this process is the judiciary, which oversees and conducts criminal trials, beginning with the initial arrest and culminating in a sentencing if the defendant is found guilty. This paper will elaborate on the booking procedure following an arrest and outline the steps involved in a criminal trial, addressing why a relatively small proportion of cases proceed all the way to trial.
The booking process commences immediately after an individual is taken into police custody. This procedure involves recording the arrested person's details, such as name, date of birth, and physical description. The process includes fingerprinting, photographing (mug shots), and collecting personal information to create a formal police record (Schmalleger, 2020). Additionally, the suspect's personal belongings are inventoried, and questions about bail are addressed. The involved personnel typically include police officers, booking officers, and sometimes jail staff. The purpose is to establish the individual's identity and prepare for legal proceedings.
Following booking, the suspect is brought before a magistrate within a specified period, usually 48 hours, for an arraignment. During the arraignment, the accused is formally charged, and their rights are read, including the right to legal counsel. Bail may be set, and the defendant can plead guilty or not guilty. If the plea is not guilty, the case proceeds to trial.
The criminal trial itself consists of several distinct steps. It begins with jury selection, where potential jurors are questioned and dismissed through a process known as voir dire (Sacco & Lentini, 2018). The prosecution presents its case first, introducing evidence and calling witnesses to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense then counters with its evidence, challenging the prosecution's case and presenting its own witnesses. After both sides have presented their cases, closing arguments summarize the evidence and attempt to persuade the jury.
The jury then deliberates privately to reach a verdict. The standard for conviction is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” a high threshold that ensures only guilty individuals are convicted (Feeney, 2020). If the jury finds the defendant guilty, the judge proceeds to sentencing. If acquitted, the defendant is released.
So why do so few cases proceed to trial? Several factors contribute. Many cases are resolved through plea bargains, where defendants agree to plead guilty in exchange for reduced sentences or charges. This process significantly reduces the caseload for courts and provides a quicker resolution (U.S. Department of Justice, 2019). Plea bargaining accounts for approximately 90% of criminal cases, highlighting its role in diverting cases from full trials. Additionally, procedural complexities, court backlogs, and resource constraints make trial an often resource-intensive process, discouraging its use.
In conclusion, the booking process and subsequent criminal trial steps constitute a foundational component of the American criminal justice system. The extensive use of plea bargains demonstrates the system’s efficiency-driven approach, balancing the pursuit of justice with practical considerations such as court capacity and resource availability.
References
Feeney, M. (2020). Criminal law and procedure. Oxford University Press.
Sacco, V. F., & Lentini, J. (2018). Criminal justice: An introduction. Pearson.
Schmalleger, F. (2020). Criminal justice today (15th ed.). Pearson.
U.S. Department of Justice. (2019). Plea bargaining in the criminal justice system. DOJ Publications.
(Note: Additional scholarly sources may be included for a comprehensive paper, depending on the required depth and breadth.)