Criminal Justice Process
Criminal Justice Process
John Wright CRJ100 Richard L. Foy Ph.D.
Strayer University
In the United States there is a process that protects the accused of a crime against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers (Carp 2011 pg. 217). This process is known as the criminal justice process. Before a suspect can be convicted of a crime, the justice process must take place. As stated in the United States Constitution, everyone has the right to procedural fairness (Schmalleger 2011 pg. 340). The criminal justice process begins with the initial contact, where the suspect has their first contact with the federal justice system. Depending on the severity of the crime the criminal justice process could continue through the correctional facility stage, if the crime the suspect committed is serious enough. The initial contact is the beginning step in the criminal justice process. During this phase the offender has their first contact with the federal justice system (Personal Uncc 2013). In most cases the initial contact is usually with police responding to a suspect’s crime. While responding to the initial contact, police may detain all parties involved in the incident until order is restored (Personal Uncc 2013). From there an investigation is then conducted. After the initial contact investigators investigate the crime scene. Following the crime that was committed, investigators gather evidence at the scene where possible (Schmalleger 2011 pg.18). Once the investigators gather the evidence, they will conduct a follow up investigation and attempt to reconstruct the sequence of activities (Schmalleger 2011 pg.18). The investigation could take years to complete and involve numerous investigators. At the conclusion of the investigation an arrest can be made and warrants are issued for those suspects who were not apprehended at the scene of the
John Wright CRJ100 Richard L. Foy Ph.D.
Strayer University
In the United States there is a process that protects the accused of a crime against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers (Carp 2011 pg. 217). This process is known as the criminal justice process. Before a suspect can be convicted of a crime, the justice process must take place. As stated in the United States Constitution, everyone has the right to procedural fairness (Schmalleger 2011 pg. 340). The criminal justice process begins with the initial contact, where the suspect has their first contact with the federal justice system. Depending on the severity of the crime the criminal justice process could continue through the correctional facility stage, if the crime the suspect committed is serious enough. The initial contact is the beginning step in the criminal justice process. During this phase the offender has their first contact with the federal justice system (Personal Uncc 2013). In most cases the initial contact is usually with police responding to a suspect’s crime. While responding to the initial contact, police may detain all parties involved in the incident until order is restored (Personal Uncc 2013). From there an investigation is then conducted. After the initial contact investigators investigate the crime scene. Following the crime that was committed, investigators gather evidence at the scene where possible (Schmalleger 2011 pg.18). Once the investigators gather the evidence, they will conduct a follow up investigation and attempt to reconstruct the sequence of activities (Schmalleger 2011 pg.18). The investigation could take years to complete and involve numerous investigators. At the conclusion of the investigation an arrest can be made and warrants are issued for those suspects who were not apprehended at the scene of the
References: Carp, R. A., Stidham, R., & Manning, K. L. (2011). Judicial process in America (pp. 217,255,239,246,250). Washington, D.C: CQ Press. Iowa Judicial Branch. (2013). Retrieved April 15, 2013, from http://www.iowacourts.gov/ Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the 21st century (pp. 340,18,19,351,245,355,21,373,374,375,22,423). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (2013). Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://personal.uncc.edu/mfmckenz/Socy3173.The%20Criminal%20Justice%20System.htm Flow Chart: http://www.doc.state.ia.us/Images/IowaDOC.pdf