Analyzing the Role of Society within the Criminal Justice System

This essay discusses the role of society in the criminal justice system, focusing on crime prevention, government structure, and the effectiveness of different punishment methods. It examines the controversial aspects of the death penalty in the USA, highlighting issues of racial bias and the high costs associated with capital punishment. The essay also explores rehabilitation programs within correctional systems and their impact on reducing recidivism. The importance of societal values and media influence in shaping the definition and prevention of crime is emphasized, arguing that a moral and just criminal justice system should prioritize rehabilitation and address the root causes of criminal behavior. Desklib offers similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Role of Society and Criminal Justice
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Author note

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Introduction:
The main subject matter of the case is to discuss about the role of the society in
case of criminal justice system and the required government structure regarding this. There
are certain discussions made regarding the contribution of the citizens making an effective
criminal justice system. Certain theories are taken to redefine the topic and the conditions of
the state courts and prisons have also been discussed under this topic. The judiciary system of
United States is much concentrate on the crime prevention policy and it has been observed
that extraordinary efforts have been invested in this regard. However, in spite of all these
efforts, the process of death penalty in USA has become slow and uncertain. There are certain
reasons mentioned in this circumstance. The main reason is that the USA constitution is
conveying its support against the death penalty in the eighth amendment of the constitution.
Further, there are many condemned prisoners confined in the prisons and it becomes tough to
penalise all the prisoners with death penalties. In addition, the USA government has taken
certain ideologies regarding the human rights. There are certain punishment structures
adopted by the USA government to this regard. The offenders are penalised by the
incarceration process, parole, probation and fines. Certain exceptional crimes are penalised
by the death penalty. This essay will deliver the role of the society in the case of criminal
justice system by way of thorough discussion on the same.
Discussion:
Any act that goes against the moral structure of the society is called as crime. Any
types of crime is illegal in nature and after the commencement of crime, the society is
required to punish the culprit with the view to stop the criminal conduct again. The purposes
of these kinds of chastisements, which sometimes can deter antisocial from repeating
offenses; however, imprisonment is the most frequent structure of punishment and the best

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way to protect society. Parole, on the other hand, releases the prisoner before the court-
mandated sentenced is served. Some conditions may include fines, narcotic and liquor
testing, and maintaining a job and home. The correctional systems rehabilitate offenders
through professional guidance counselling, drug physiotherapy, and education. Through
these forms of education, detainees begin to set up for reintegration into the external world of
penal complex. Prisoner rehabilitation has a high rate of success and helps to put off repeated
offenders from preparing prisoners in a variety of ways. The ultimate aim of rehabilitation
programs in prisons is to teach offenders ways how to handling the real world on a day-to-
day basis (Federal Bureau of Prisons, c, n.d).
There are certain discriminations could be found in case of announcement of
the death penalty and it has been observed that most of the death penalties are pronounced on
the "African-American and Hispanic" community. There are certain researches have been
made against this issue and it has been observed that this community commits most of the
capital crimes and therefore, they have to face the capital punishment to this regard.
According to the criminal records of the USA, certain information have been come into light
from where it has been clarified that almost 50% death penalties are pronounced against these
communities. However, these communities are possessed only 13% of the total population of
USA. Certain criticisms have been made against this system and it has been stated that the
USA government pronounced all death penalties on this community, as they are the weaker
section of the society and they do not have much resources. Therefore, certain voices are
raised against the death penalties in the society and media has highlighted the matters on
strong basis (Colby, 2006). Another valid reason for opposing the death penalty is the fact
that there is no trustworthy evidence that dissuade crime. No one can prove that death
penalties have greater effect on the criminals compared to the long sentences in case of
prevention of crime.

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It is a fact that any types of criminal activities are wrong and the offender
should have to be punished for the offence. However, it is to kept in mind that the criminal
justice should be moral enough to deal with these problems and there should not be any such
process for that the moral principle of the society could be affected. Further, the mind of the
criminals should be changed and it will mitigate the risk of crime. There are two main
elements of crime such as mind of the criminals and criminal acts. Therefore, before
commencement of the act, plans regarding the same are prepared in the mind of the criminals.
According to many crime researchers, certain psychological changes could lead towards an
effective crime prevention plan (Goldberg & Dershowitz, 1970). An act of crime can
effectively be defined from the eyes of law and until an act hurts the sentiment of the society
or a particular group, it could not be treated as crime. Therefore, the society has a great role
for the prevention of crime. There can be certain instances to this effect. If taking of bribe
cannot be supported by the society, it will be an illegal thing and in case of converse
situation, it will not be treated as crime if the society does not make any protest against the
same, though it is immoral in nature. Further, media plays an essential role in this case. They
are highlighting all the illegal issues commenced in the country. They are helping to mitigate
all the criminal issues and the people get to know about the crime and become conscious.
Conclusion:
The criminal justice system has five goals in mind; they are deterrence, the use of fear
of punishment to prevent criminal tendencies. There are two types of deterrence there is
specific deterrence and general deterrence. Specific deterrence is what happens when an
offender is caught, punished and then decides not to engage in any other criminal activity due
to the fear that they will once again get caught and will have to face the consequences of their
behaviour. The death penalty is more costly than putting a person in prison for life without

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the possibility of parole. It cost approximately two million per case versus one million for
fifty years in prison. Also in 2011, studies found that California has spent more than $4
billion on capital punishment since it was reinstated in 1978. From the studies, trials are 20
times more expensive than trails seeking a sentence of life in prison without a chance of
parole due to the appeals process granted to the offender.

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Reference:
Colby, M. (2006). Race, capital punishment, and the cost of murder. Philosophical
Studies, 127(2), 255-282.http://dx.doi.org.contentproxy.phoenix.edu
/10.1007/s11098-005-4958-6 Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com
Federal Bureau of Prison. (n.d.). Substances abuse treatment.
Retrieved from http://222.bop.gov
Goldberg, A. J. & Dershowitz, A. M. (1970). Declaring the death penalty unconstitutional.
Harvard Law Review83, 8, 1773, June 1970