Criminal Justice System: Components and Processes in the US

This report provides a detailed overview of the criminal justice system in the United States, highlighting its decentralized nature with individual state systems operating alongside federal jurisdictions. It breaks down the system into three key components: law enforcement, adjudication, and corrections. The report outlines the processes within each component, including pre-arrest investigations, arrests, pre-trial services, arraignment, trials, and sentencing. It also discusses the role of corrections in rehabilitation and reintegration. The report emphasizes the importance of legal institutions in ensuring justice but also acknowledges potential biases within the system, particularly during arrests. The report concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of legal institutions in upholding justice, from investigation and arrest to prosecution, sentencing, and rehabilitation.

Introduction
The Criminal justice system in the United States is a web of
different criminal systems that are complementary. Unlike other
nations, the United States is divided into various states that have
their own criminal justice system; that is, the system does not
rest in a single or all encompassing institution. The network in the
criminal justice system involves the criminal justice system at the
federal, state, and special jurisdictional levels like in martial
courts and territorial courts. (Goodison, Davis & Jackson, 2015)
Although these criminal laws vary from these levels they are
consistent and based on the US constitution. The criminal justice
system has jurisdiction over various cases ranging from treason
to robbery not to mention criminal misdemeanors. (Pound
&Christenson, 2018)
The criminal justice system comprise of various procedures and
institutions that are aimed at punishing offenders, preventing
reoffending and helping the victims cope through compensation.

Components of the criminal
justice system
The essential components of the
US criminal justice are divided
into three;
Law enforcement
Adjudication
Corrections

Law Enforcement
This is the first step in the
Criminal Justice System and
involve the following;
Pre-Arrest Investigation
Arrests

Pre-Arrest Investigation
To ensure that one is to be
arrested then it is important for
the law enforcement agencies to
carry out the necessary
investigation.
It involves;
The police collecting evidence
Making reports
Application for an arrest warrant

Arrest
After a conclusive investigation, if the
findings are compelling enough the
police will move on to arrest the
suspect.
The arrest made must be legal and for a
probable cause.
The constitution of the United States
protects its citizens from malicious and
random arrest with cause.
On average the police arrest 1 person
after every three seconds.

Arrest Trends

ADJUDICATION
This limp of the criminal justice system is
concerned with the court processes.
After the arrest of Merrihew, it is important
that he brought before a court of law so that
the case may be heard and a pronouncement
made on the matter.
Adjudication involves the following processes;
Pre Trial Services
Arraignment
Trial
Sentencing

Pre Trial Services
This is the preliminary stage in
the court process.
Here the investigation report is
presented to the
prosecution(Green, 2016).
The prosecution exercises his
jurisdiction as to the whether or
not the case meets the bare
minimum requirements in order
to be presented before a court of

Arraignment
After the prosecution is satisfied that
the evidence is watertight and the case
can stand trial, the suspect is brought
before court.
The suspect is brought before court and
the charges read to him in the presence
of his attorney(Dearborn, 2011).
He takes a plea and as common as it is
most suspect often enter a plea of not
guilty.

Trial
The is the stem of the court process in the
criminal justice system in the United
States.
It is characterized by arguments from the
defense lawyer and the prosecution
lawyers.
The verbal exchange is based on the facts,
evidence, and the position of the law.
Present during the trial is usually an
independent jury comprising of citizens of
the United States.

Sentencing
Every state has its own guidelines in sentencing with
regards to specific offences(Hall, 2013).
In maters of armed robbery the court looks at the
surrounding circumstance to ascertain the best
sentence to be awarded to the suspect.
In cases of armed robbery the weapon use is material
when sentencing the offender.
Mitigating factors are also considered because the aim
of the law is to ensure justice is served.
The sentence applicable include: life imprisonment, a
fine of $10,000 and without parole.
Alternatively, the one could be sentenced to life and
granted parole.
This is dependant on the prevailing circumstance