Criminal Justice System

By Author: Anthony W Bills
Total Articles: 158
Comment this article

Criminal Justice System

Does the discipline of criminology provide adequate explanations to account for the disproportionate representation of black people as suspects and offenders in the criminal justice system?
Executive summary
The criminal justice system is a body that governs law and justice programs leading to the assurance of safety and security among communities in the society. Following the current advancements in technology and modernization, the issue of security has become one of the main considerations that ought to be put in place; in the pursuit of establishing justice systems that are free from corruption and biasness. In this regard, there arises the need to ensure modification and reinstating of the current criminal justice systems so as to ensure the enhancement of peace among the communities in the society.
Perhaps, various strategies ought to be devised in order to ensure the improvement of operations of criminal justice system. Considering the technicalities in the system, it is important to establish an effective policy to improve the system so as to enhance the efficiency and ...
... effectiveness of its operations. In this case, the policy of “Leading by example” would be very helpful in reinstating and improving the operations of the criminal justice system. Generally, the establishment of this policy would enhance the improvement of the operations in the criminal justice system in the contemporary society.

Introduction
Criminology is discipline concerned with the establishment of legal systems in the society in to enhance coexistence among individuals. On this basis therefore, criminal justice system is a framework of laws and regulations meant to establish fairness in various dealings in the society. Despite being a very crucial system in the society, the criminal justice system’s operations has been faced by a number of problems; in which its objectives and goals have not been affectively achieved, as revealed by Birkbeck et al. (1995). As a result, many crimes have been happening and the criminals end up not being arrested; which leads to the society feeling threatened resulting into lack of peace and harmony. In this respect therefore, BJC (1963) suggests that; critical measures on the current criminal system are of great significance so as to ensure the restoration of peace and coherence in the society (Sasson 2001).
According to Gilling (2001), the discipline of criminology has been revealed to provide adequate explanations of various happenings in the contemporary society based on racial segregations. As it has been revealed, the racial profiling among of Muslims in US airports on the basis of war on terror was been found to violate human rights and social interactions relations. Basically, the discipline of criminology finds its relevance in critically solving the entire conflict among Muslims and US about the involvement of Muslims in various terrorism attacks on US planes (Sasson, 2002).
With reference to (Rothman 1995), productive social crime prevention models should be devised to deal with preventing crime acts by repairing the social damage and problems that it assumes lie beneath criminal activity. It is important to note that, the crime prevention models should focus on the ‘root causes of crime’ (Rosenbaum et al. 1998). For instance, Akers (1996) model of social crime prevention assumes that; criminality is as a result of social disorganization and disintegration. Since the problems lie within society, it is logical that the solutions to these problems also lie within society and the various local communities. As an example, this model explains crime involving robbery in terms of “developmental and community problems” (Gilling 2001).
Certainly, social factors like poverty, high population, as well as association with criminals and racial heterogeneity have been observed to enhance the increase of crimes in the society. These factors deny the community members a means of exercising social control thus becoming more susceptible to crime. To eliminate these problems, there is need to set up policies which support those groups in society who need it. According to Rosenbaum et al (1998), the social policies required to combat crime are changes in education, psychotherapy and creating social structures aimed at improving youth characters. In this respect therefore, the social policies should effectively address issues of poverty, lack of proper housing and create good recreational facilities for young people (Rothman 1995).
The model acknowledges that; felony is a complex societal problem that requires collaboration of the government, as well as community members and their families.
By contrast, situational model focuses on the context of crime, that is, the environment within which crime occurs. This model is place-focused. It is widely said that crime is “opportunistic” in that criminal activity occurs when there is the right opportunity to commit it. Clarke (n.d.) says that crime “occurs when someone who is criminally motivated finds or creates a criminal opportunity”. Many criminology theorists agree by saying that felony is normal and a routine feature on daily basis. It is committed by normal people after making rational choice when the chance presents itself. This is so when the benefits of committing crime outweigh the consequences (Felson 1994).
According to this model, robbery occurs when a potential criminal lacks proper guidance and there exist a good opportunity. The criminal may be influenced by the potential benefits of robbery and make an informed choice of stealing. This model tries to eliminate crime through target hardening and ‘designing’ it out. The mechanisms may include improved lighting and visibility as well as fitting of security mechanisms and measures that promote security. The two strategies are associated with social disorganization theory and social control theory. Both see the cause of crime as being within humans (Gilling 2001).
To explain why crime varied across different zones of the city, Shaw and McKay used social disorganization theory. This theory refers to a lack of effective regulation of social behavior, in accordance with existing norms, which arises, in part, from the social fragmentation of a community. Indirectly, this process leads to a reduced sense of communality. Social disorganization theory assumes that crime and delinquent behavior is not an individual problem, but rather an expected response of normal individuals to abnormal social, structural, and cultural conditions in a community. Thus, to prevent crime, from a social disorganization theoretical perspective, community crime prevention interventions should be concerned with community empowerment, development, and social justice. Crawford (2005) and Rosenbaum et al (1998) discuss the community crime prevention initiatives that have been derived from social disorganization theory.
Paying close attention to Chicago Area Project (CAP), often identified as the first community-based crime prevention project, the CAP provides an early model for many contemporary community-based crime prevention initiatives (Nettler 1984). Since the year 1932, CAP sought to rebuild institutions of social support and control within local communities (for example, schools, churches, and neighborhood associations) so that community members were empowered to provide support and supervision to future generations of children. As a result, some 22 neighborhood centers were established in 6 Chicago areas. Shaw’s research in the 1930s indicated that the zone nearest the centre had the highest delinquency rates. Over time, regardless of ethnic mix, the delinquency rate remained the same, so he concluded that it was the social environment that created the crime problems. The social factors here were social (population instability); poverty, and culturally mixed society. One important assumption was that human society functioned as an ecological model, that is, human society, like plant life, operated on the principle of invasion, dominance and succession’ (Crawford, 1998). This meant that communities further from the centre of the business district were more stable.
The second assumption was that crime results from a failure of community life, that is, these factors resulted in lack of social structure like social cohesion. Crawford describes this process: “The weakening of social controls ...impunity”. Shaw came up with policies to entrench social programs which he believed “can reduce delinquency in high delinquency areas”. Further, he viewed that such programs should “integrate the people and institutions that shape youths' lives on a daily basis, thereby strengthening the often strained social relationships between youth and adults.” In such, there ought to be social structures that improve environmental conditions and eliminate criminality among young individuals. Shaw initiated recreation programs aimed at guiding youth and provide education to immigrants (Sampson & Laub 1995).
Further, the project introduced the concept “of youth outreach worker approach that aims to blend service workers into the natural milieu of at-risk youth.” (Bahdi 2003). This theory took the view that the crime problems developed because the communities had become weaker. The goal was to have the community strong enough to impose informal social restraints on potential offenders to prevent crime. The delinquents and/or potential delinquents were included within society, not excluded, to encourage them to conform. By so doing, various societal conflicts among nations or individuals would really be solved more productively. For instance the conflict between the United States and Muslim countries over terrorism allegations would best be achieved through peaceful negotiations (Bahdi 2003).
As it has been revealed, the act of profiling Muslims in US airports is not mainly based on terrorism but rather on mere racial discrimination. Basically, the previous plots of terrorism attack by Muslims should not lead to engagement of all Muslim travelers in profiling at US airports. Bahdi (2003) sees this as just a mere discrimination against Muslims, as out of millions of the world Muslims, very few of them get engaged in terrorism. In this regard, the act of profiling all the Muslims entering or leaving United States does not make sense on humanitarianism aspect. Generally, Bahdi suggests the introduction of better strategy to fight terrorism rather than the profiling of Muslims alone in US airports (Reiss & Michael 1996).
More so, as revealed by Faye (2010), the profiling of Muslims in US airports would in the long-run stir up serious alienations between the Muslim countries and the United States. In particular, the main issue raised in this article is the impact of profiling Muslims alone in US airports in Muslim countries. As the article depicts, the act of profiling Muslims would seem to be discriminating Muslims; who have for long contemplated on revenging against their mistreatment by Americans. In this article, the Billboard warning drivers against Islam rising depicts the posing of danger in America by Muslims. So as to ensure productive fight against the terrorism acts done by the Muslims, there arises the need to treat Muslims with high esteem as it is done to the other people. This is meant to make Muslims understand that they are not being discriminated by Americans.
In contrast, the social control theory focused on the individual within society (Nettler, 1984). One assumption of the theory is that if an individual does not develop self-control early in life, he will not bond psychologically to society. The real cause of crime according to this theory is defective socialization within the individual. Particularly, the act of dealing with an individual group of suspect on various crimes may yield credible results in the process of preventing crimes in the society. Though may be perceived as on racial basis, the profiling of Muslims in US airports is justified in the way subsequent attacks have been accrued to Muslims (Thrasher 1992).
As revealed in the DADS (2003), various calls have been made to the government to reinforce the security in the US airports so as to assure Americans safety in their air trips. Particularly, the several of plots for attacking US airplanes by several Muslims posed a great threat to America; which necessitated the profiling of Muslims in American airports. According to the DADS (2003), many US citizens called for the government to intervene in providing their security in the airports from the merciless Muslims; which necessitated the profiling of Muslims in the US airports. More precisely, the urge to profile Muslim travelers in the US airports, as revealed by DABS, was as a result of the fears that people had after the 09/11 attack. By profiling Muslims, the US citizens were assured of safe journeys by airplanes.
In addition, the United States should introduce a wider network of crime detectives would ensure lower chances of crime operations; as the criminals would be caught earlier before they set on the crime act. By so doing, the system would become more efficient in attaining its laid down goals and objectives. As a matter of fact, the “Leading by example” policy would encourage the crime detectives to be more active and devoted in crime investigations, which would enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the system as suggested by Birkbeck et al. (1995). In this case, it is important to establish many sub-stations for crime detectives; which will form a basis for higher chances of acquiring information on various matters. Perhaps, the acquirement of information from various parts of the region would help the crime detectives investigate on any crime act in various activities related to the information acquired. More so, the acquirement of various modern equipments to be used in the process of crime investigations would be very vital as it would further ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the program as postulated by Coldren, J. et al. (1992).
Conversely, as revealed in the DADS (2003), various calls have been made to the government to reinforce the security in the US airports so as to assure Americans safety in their air trips. Particularly, the several of plots for attacking US airplanes by several Muslims posed a great threat to America; which necessitated the profiling of Muslims in American airports. According to the DADS (2003), many US citizens called for the government to intervene in providing their security in the airports from the merciless Muslims; which necessitated the profiling of Muslims in the US airports. More precisely, the urge to profile Muslim travelers in the US airports, as revealed by DABS, was as a result of the fears that people had after the 09/11 attack. By profiling Muslims, the US citizens were assured of safe journeys by airplanes.
Further, this policy of “Leading by example” would work very well if crime detectives are motivated by being given good packages. As it has been revealed, motivation in all social organizations plays a very important role in ensuring the achievement of the organizations’ goals and objectives. On this regard therefore, criminal detectives ought to be motivated in various ways like being paid well and other allowances so as to encourage them on their operations. It is also important to note that, well motivated employees would emerge to be very innovative and creative in their areas of specialization; which would lead to a better performance as put forward by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (1963). On this regard, the motivation of crime detectives would motivate them to incorporate the policy of “Leading by example.
More so, Birkbeck et al. (1995) reveals that, the crime detectors should be rewarded regularly on the basis of their achievements; which would further cultivate the idea of self initiative leading to higher efficiency in the system. More specifically, the well performing crime detectors should be accorded with respective honors; which would further encourage them to ‘lead by example. Generally, with the incorporation of good and non-biased rewarding system, the operations of the criminal investigation system would be improved at a great deal. By so doing, the criminal justice system would be enhancing its prosperity and efficiency as its core-stake holders would be motivated in their work (Blagg 2004).
Conclusion
Generally, the best solution to the crime prevention may be not lie on either social or situational strategies but to develop a combination of both because there are three components: criminal, victim and context. As it has been revealed, each approach deals with different aspects of criminal activity by applying strategic principles and considerations. This would further enhance the achievement of the Criminal Justice’s goals and objectives at a greater deal by disregarding racial disparities among nations. Basically, the establishment of fair and justified operations against crimes in the society would be the ultimate resolution towards the achievement of a coherent and more harmonious society. As it has been revealed, the discipline of criminology has been found to provide the ultimate resolution towards the currently observed social and racial segregations among Muslims and Americans over terrorism allegations.

Reference list
Akers, Ronald L. "Is Differential Association/Social Learning Cultural Deviance Theory?"
Criminology 34, no. 2 (1996): 229-47.
Blagg, H. & Valuri G. (2004) ‘Self-policing and community safety: the work of Aboriginal
Patrols in Australia’, Current Issues in Criminal Justice 15(3): 205-20.
Birkbeck, C. (1995). An evaluation of Multi-Jurisdiction Task Forces. Albuquerque: New
Mexico Statistical Analysis Center.
Bahdi, Reem. No Exit: Racial Profiling and Canadians war Against Terrorism. Jan 23, 2003. Oct
10, 2010.
Beirne, Piers. (1993) Inventing Criminology: Essays on the Rise of ‘Homo Criminalis’. Albany:
Suny Press.
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). (1963). Narcotics-Related Financial Investigations:
Lessons Learned from the Finvest Program Model. Washington, DC: Department
Of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Coldren, J. et al. (1992) Focus on What Works: Law Enforcement Task Force Evaluation
Projects Results and Findings in the States. Washington, DC: Department of
Criminology Press
Clarke, Ronald V. (Ed.). 1997. Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies (Second Edition). Albany, NY: Harrow and Heston Publishers.
Clarke, R. (2005) The theory and practice of situational crime prevention. Retrieved on Oct 29
2010 from: http://www.edoca.eu/content/docs/Situational_crime_prevention.pdf
Crawford, A. (1998) Crime Prevention and Community Safety: Politics, Policies and Practices. Harlow: Longman Publishers.
Debates About Domestic Security (DABS). “Do Some American Muslims Pose a threat to
America?” Muslims for a Safe America. Sep 2, 2005. Oct 10, 2010.

Delanty, G. (2003). Community & Criminology. London: Routledge Publishers.
Durkheim, E. (1987) Rules of Sociological Behavior, Eighth Edition. New York: The Free Press.
Ekblom, P. (2010) Securing the knowledge: The 5Is framework for improving performance in
Crime prevention, security and community safety. Retrieved On September 3rd 2010
from; http://www.aic.gov.au/events/seminars/2010/~/media/seminars/ekblom_presentati on.pdf
Ekblom, P. (1994) Proximal Circumstances: a Mechanism-Based Classification of Crime Prevention. New York: Prentice Hall Publishers.
Erickson, K. (2006). Supporting Writing Strategy Development in the General Education Classroom. Retrieved on September 3rd 2010 from; http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds/files/conference-hand-outs/ProjectSOLO- CTG.pdf
Faye, Jackie. Anti-Muslim Billboard: ‘Islam Rising… Be warned’. June 24, 2010. Oct 10, 2010.

Felson, M. (1994) Crime and Everyday Life: Insights and Implications for Society. Thousand
Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press.
Gilling, D. (1998.). Crime prevention. Retrieved on September 3rd 2010 from;
http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199215546/hucklesby_ch01.pdf
Hirschi, T. & Michel R. (1999) Gottfredson. A General Theory of Crime. Stanford: Stanford
University Press, 1990.
Hirschi, T. & Gottfredson M. (1983) “Age and the explanation of crime”. American Journal of Sociology.
Hurtz, R. (1997) Evaluating Chicago Sociology: A Guide to the Literature. Chicago: University
of Chicago Press.
Keith, Michael. (1993) Race, Riots, and Policing. London: UCL Press, 1993.
Labonte, R. (1997). Community, community development, and the forming of authentic partnerships. New Jersey: Rutgers.
Lauckner, H. (2010) Conceptualizing Community Development from an Occupational Therapy Perspective: Three Canadian case studies. Retrieved on September 3rd 2010
From; http://qspace.library.queensu.ca/bitstream/1974/5446/1/Lauckner_Heidi- Michelle_201003_PHD.pdf
Nettler, G. (1984), Explaining Criminology. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
Rothman, J. (1995) The Discovery of the Asylum: Social Order and Disorder in the New
Republic. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.Robert, P. (2001) Valuation of safety and crime prevention policies in Europe. Retrieved
On September 3rd 2010 from; http://lodel.irevues.inist.fr/crimprev/index.php?id=176
Rosenbaum, D. et al (1998) Prevention of Crime: Social and Situational Strategies. Belmont,
CA: Wadsworth Publishers.
Sampson, R. & Laub, H. (1993). Crime in the Making Pathways and Turning Points through Life. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Schutt, K. (1999) Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research, 2d ed.
Calif: Pine Forge Press.
Smith, J. (1989) Crime, Space and Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sasson, T. (2002) Crime Talk: How Citizens Construct a Social Problem. New York: Aldine de
Gruyter Press.
Reiss, A. & Michael T. (1996) Communities and Crime. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Thrasher, M. (1992) The Gang: A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.

Author's bio:

The author is associated with the www.urgentdissertations.com and he can help you with research papers,term papers,dissertations,thesis,course work