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    CJS

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    aylinn avila
    The document discusses several components of the criminal justice system including legislative bodies that create laws, police that enforce laws, criminal courts that try cases and impose sentences, and corrections facilities that carry out sentences. It also discusses mass incarceration in the US and justifications for punishment. Specific theories on criminal behavior from Sutherland and Hirschi are outlined, and the conclusion expresses concern about wrongful convictions.

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    CJS

    Uploaded by

    aylinn avila
    34 views2 pages
    The document discusses several components of the criminal justice system including legislative bodies that create laws, police that enforce laws, criminal courts that try cases and impose sentences, and corrections facilities that carry out sentences. It also discusses mass incarceration in the US and justifications for punishment. Specific theories on criminal behavior from Sutherland and Hirschi are outlined, and the conclusion expresses concern about wrongful convictions.

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    The document discusses several components of the criminal justice system including legislative bodies that create laws, police that enforce laws, criminal courts that try cases and impose sentences, and corrections facilities that carry out sentences. It also discusses mass incarceration in the US and justifications for punishment. Specific theories on criminal behavior from Sutherland and Hirschi are outlined, and the conclusion expresses concern about wrongful convictions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    34 views2 pages

    CJS

    Uploaded by

    aylinn avila
    The document discusses several components of the criminal justice system including legislative bodies that create laws, police that enforce laws, criminal courts that try cases and impose sentences, and corrections facilities that carry out sentences. It also discusses mass incarceration in the US and justifications for punishment. Specific theories on criminal behavior from Sutherland and Hirschi are outlined, and the conclusion expresses concern about wrongful convictions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Aylinn Avila

    12/4/22

    1. The various components of the criminal justice system are legislative bodies, which
    police makers at all levels that create and alter laws that define crime and punishment.
    Another one is the police which enforce the laws, investigate, reduce, and prevent crime.
    The third component is criminal courts which give fair and impartial trials, decide
    criminal cases, ensure due process and impose sentences. Then there are corrections
    which carry out sentences, safe and humane custody and rehabilitation. The last
    component is media which shapes the way we view criminals, police, and corrections.

    2. Mass incarceration refers to the unique way the U.S. has locked up a vast population of
    federal and state prisoners, as well as local jails. More than 2 million people are
    incarcerated in U.S. prisons as well as local and county jails. There are 1 in 3 black men
    in the U.S. who will go to jail or prison if current trends continue.

    3. Punishment within the criminal justice system is justified in a few ways. One is simply to
    stop the act of committing a crime due to the threat of incarceration and to prevent others
    from committing these offenses or other offenses. Another justification is simply the idea
    that when one does something of merit, they are rewarded, therefore when a crime is
    committed, consequences should be reciprocated just as rewards are. The last justification
    is simply to keep the balance of peace within society which means bringing justice to the
    table when society is defined or harmed due to the preposterous actions of criminal
    offenders.

    4. The United States leads the world with the numbers of citizens imprisoned and holds the
    biggest establishment into prisons and federal justice systems. From the 20th to the 21st
    century, crime rates drastically increased. This is known as mass incarceration. As the
    number of incarcerated increased, as did the crime rate. Therefore, it is evident that
    incarceration doesn't reduce the crime rate, it only increases it because it increases others'
    susceptibility to criminal activity which inevitably leads to the making of more criminal
    activity within society.

    5. Using Sutherland's theory of differential association, Sutherland correlates social roots


    and influences within an individual's everyday life leads them to be susceptible to
    criminal activity when conforming with society. Sutherland uses these theories to explain
    the difference between those who break the law and those who don't. Considering when
    one learns a crime or of a crime, the individual can decide whether the crime would be a
    favorable or unfavorable crime or whether to break the law or not.

    6. Hirschi's Social Control Theory generally states that people are composed of 4 social
    controls which are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Hirschi claims that
    when an individual loses control of one of these, they are more likely to commit a crime.
    Given this, one can assume Hirschi would greatly oppose using incarceration because
    when an individual is imprisoned, there is no reconciliation with contemporary society.
    Losing touch of these controls would likely increase the intensity of the criminal behavior
    in an individual and would create more crime and criminal influences in society.

    7. One of the most horrific things that comes to mind is being convicted of a crime I did not
    commit. To think that the system I had put all faith and trust into for justice had proven
    ill. Many innocents are wrongfully convicted of crimes and when or if they are
    recognized for their innocence, they should be compensated financially, emotionally, and
    educationally. Only thirty out of fifty states currently uphold laws for the exonerated. I
    would make all fifty states give benefits and aid to those wrongfully accused because it is
    sickening to one day having a life and a family to the next being punished for something I
    did not commit.

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