Criminal Justice System in United States and Mexico

Criminal Justice System in United States and Mexico

Introduction

United States

United States criminal justice system is utilized by both local and national governments, it helps in maintaining social control, while punishing those who violates the law and charged with criminal penalties. Under United States criminal justice system, primary agents are responsible for upholding the law, these primary agents includes, prosecutors, defense attorneys, courts, law enforcement agencies along with jails and prisons. Moreover, these primary agents are responsible to charge, arrest, punish and adjudicate the individuals who have been identified guilty and committed crime. They make sure that accused individual rights are protected and provided with a fair trial during the process. By law, in United States an accused remain innocent until proven guilty (Criminal Justice System, 2011). The core components that make up the criminal justice system are law enforcement, courts and corrections. Law enforcement agencies are municipal organizations whose purposes are to maintain order, enforce the criminal law, and provide services. Police officers operate in the community to prevent and control crime. They cooperate with prosecutors in criminal investigations, gathering evidence necessary to obtain convictions in the courts. The role of the police enforce the law, investigate crimes, apprehend offenders, reduce and prevent crimes, maintain public order, ensure community safety, provide emergency and related community services and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals (Adams 1973).

Entrance into the criminal justice system begins with a crime. An initial report given to law enforces by a victim, witness or other third party that a crime has been committed. Officers then ensue with an investigation of the crime in an attempt to identify perpetrators and compile sufficient evidence in order to make an arrest or issue a notice to appear in court on a specific date. During criminal investigations law enforcement collaborates with prosecutors assembling evidence essential to acquiring a conviction in court. Contingent on the complexity and dynamics of the crime, if officers are incapable of finding a suspect or sufficient evidence to support the crime report no arrests will be made, perpetrators found can be released without prosecution and the case remains unresolved (Reddington 2005).

Constitution has strong forms and ground, which provides a powerful base to be distributed equally from congress, it defines the standard that every individual will live by and adhere. The constitution will address and protect rights of an individual and stop the violation of justice system, moreover, court and police can take corrective action that will serve mandating law. This law will uphold and carry out sentencing against the accused; these discussed three branches are most important functions that serve the Constitution purpose.

The Three Branches of Criminal Justice System

Law and policing has been for many years, the initiation of law and policing have change the functions and operating of law in criminal justice system for decades, it has provided foundation to law and enforcement agencies that helps in dealing with justice system. Establishment of United States criminal justice system ...