The criminal justice system

The criminal justice system

The criminal justice system refers to a collection of state, federal, and local public agencies that deal with matters relating to crime. These agencies are responsible for suspects, convicted offenders, and defendants, and their functions are interdependent. Therefore, the decisions made by one agency affects those made by other agencies. The critical components of the criminal justice system include the police department, courts, and corrections. The police department is the public agency responsible for providing order, services, and enforcing criminal law. The courts, on the other hand, are tribunals were juries or judges determine the criminal responsibility of individuals who have been accused of committing a crime. Employees of the courts, including judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys, seek justice and discover the truth. The corrections involve facilities such as prisons, parole jails, and community-based sanctions, among others, that serve to rehabilitate, punish, and ensure public safety. These components interact since the daily activities of courts and corrections are dependent on the police department while their decisions affect the police department. For example, the police officers work with prosecutors to gather the evidence required for convictions in courts. Later, people who are convicted are either taken to the correction facilities of set free. The U.S Constitution relates to the criminal justice system since it authorizes criminal law and limits its scope. For instance, the constitution empowers the application of common law that was created by the courts. On the other hand, it prevents the federal and state governments from undertaking certain activities e.g., depriving someone of their life hence limiting what can be made crime.