Within this paper I will discuss past, current, and future trends and how it affects and changes our criminal justice system. I will also address recent and future trends and contemporary issues that affect the criminal justice system, as well as the values of the criminal justice system in a changing society.
Past Trends
Even though to most it may not seem like it, the criminal justice system has come a long way in its dealings with the public. In the past the criminal justice system was viewed as a faceless machine that acted independently of the areas it charged to look after. It seemed that it was better to stay detached from the public in order to remain biased in their judgment and to keep their professional appearance. By studying past trends we not only were able to see trends in criminal behavior as well as having the ability to try and create possible projections on why it could lead but, we were also able to view the interaction between the criminal justice system and those it served. Both the criminal justice system and the general public realized the need for cooperation between the two to better the results. Society has always and will always be changing and it is only through ongoing efforts and partnerships within the community that the criminal justice system can stay informed and better understand how to combat criminal trends. By understanding trends in the past and considering how certain criminal events began and where they are now, the criminal justice system has been able to gain a wealth of knowledge about illegal activity and how different attempts to control or stop the actions have worked or failed. By