Why Do We as a Society Need a Criminal Justice System?

Why do we (as a society) need a criminal justice system?

The Criminal justice system is essential in society today without it would mean chaos. Two reasons why we need a system are firstly that it is used to punish or correct wrongdoing (Sallmann and Willis 1980s) and secondly for protecting the young and otherwise vulnerable people (Justice Kirby). Without one would essentially mean total chaos in many parts the world. The system is a series of organizations, the definition of Criminal Justice System: Criminal Justice System. Dictionary.reference.com. LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/criminal+justice+system: a series of organizations who is involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and jailing those involved in crimes - including law enforcement, attorneys, judges, courts of law, prisons.

Crime has been around for hundreds of years in every country, during the times of ancient china, pre modern Europe, and colonial America. Throughout history there has been evolving forms of punishment, police reforms, and added rights for offenders and victims, different customs, ideals and economic conditions. Certain laws have changed over calendar years it can be to do with social control and order, for example owning and using a firearm (Gun laws), it has changed over time, society has decided to control and make order when it comes to firearms it is depended on local state and federal laws and licensing weather it is legal or illegal, whilst the public still wants to have a say and so works hard to lobby with or against the banning or regulations of firearms. Statistics show there is a high availability and or demand to purchase there is a popular interest for hunting, self protection etc therefore it is necessary.

The three main components of the system are one investigative, two adjudicative and three corrections. Police are front line dealing face to face with the public; they are the investigative arm of the CJS. Police need to be apprehending and adhering to the goals and methods of the CJS. The job is a political activity because it involves power. There are simple and more complex goals to for a policeman or woman the simple is to catch the offenders for committing a crime depending on the seriousness they can use discretion meaning the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation, but there are more complex goals such as preserving order and peace, protecting citizens and property.

All criminal justice law and related issues gets handled correctly by the right organization, it can prevent any tensions in the CJS, enforcing order it may mean a better world, it could mean the safety and wellbeing of a community or even one’s self.

To argue against then is to ask why we should not need a criminal justice system. The trends and tensions in the CJS may be enough to question why we need a CJS; other