Summary: The Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice system: How the police agency is organised in carrying out its tasks
Introduction
Performance is usually gauged through efficiency and effectiveness in any department whether in a public or private institution. (Skogan, 1976, p. 1). Efficiency is mostly about costs whereas effectiveness deals with the ability to meet goals and solve problems. The criminal justice system is tasked with various duties key among them are punishing for wrong doing, protection of the society from harm, deterrence of criminal activities and deterrence of crime. In the performance of these duties, there are different institutions that are involved in making the system both effective and efficient. Organisation means an arrangement of people
They perform this task by responding to calls made by civilians, leading in enforcing the law and ensuring citizens receive the services they require from them. Their role is considered to be the pillar of service offered by the police. The traffic controls traffic in regions that experience heavy traffic. The unit on criminal investigations is in charge of identifying and apprehending suspects and criminals while upholding justice. Issues such as prostitution, illegal gambling, pornography, illegal drugs and sale of liquor, and any other controlled substances are managed under the vice department. There is also a unit that handles any organized crimes, and punishes institutions that are found to benefit from continuing crimes called the organized crime unit. The juvenile services unit advices juveniles and refers them to social agencies, while also investigating any suspicions and instances of neglect and child abuse.( Dempsey, p. 22). There are two units that closely or directly serve the community: the community service unit and the community relations unit. They try to create a close relationship between the public and the police while also resolving disputes and giving support to victims of crime. Lastly, there is a crime prevention unit. It teaches members of the public effective ways to lessen crime and importance of neighborhood watch
It is a basic manual that identifies and outlines the boundaries of the officers on and out of duty. The code of ethics also ensures that the officers perform in a standard that is up to date. It is a legislative policy that guards the organisational conduct and behaviour in the agency. It is also under the code of ethics that there are defined levels of authority. Under these levels, there is a chain of command that must be obeyed. A junior officer cannot make regulations for a senior officer, neither can he disobey him. Orders come from above and any disobedience is severely punished in this chain. This chain brings about unity of codes and roles, because one gets direct command from an immediate senior, though the senior most in command can give a direction to any level of command, or individual. The code of ethics is one of the written organisational policies used in the police agency.
Authority in the police department not only gives power, but also responsibility. A senior officer is responsible for the juniors. Any misconduct on the part of the juniors is considered a failure on the senior. The senior officer is also accountable for all the activities of the juniors. Therefore, the juniors are required to report any findings on their departmental obligations to their immediate senior, just as they are any complaints. The findings and complaints follow the sequence of seniority