Criminal Justice System

The Criminal Justice System:

The Criminal Justice System

Issue #1 – Too Many in Prison?:

Issue #1 – Too Many in Prison?

Criminal Justice Terms:

Criminal Justice Terms probation : the suspension of a jail sentence for someone convicted of a crime, instead returning to the community for a period in which they will have to abide to certain conditions parole : the supervised release of a prisoner before the completion of his/her sentence; the person has already served some time and is considered to be completing his/her sentence jail : city/county incarceration; normally less than one year prison : state/federal incarceration; normally greater than one year

Criminal Justice System - Facts:

Criminal Justice System - Facts 766,010 1,492,973

Criminal Justice System - Facts:

Criminal Justice System - Facts 766,010 1,492,973 An increase of over 300% An increase of over 350% Population increased 32%

Criminal Justice System - Facts:

Criminal Justice System - Facts

Criminal Justice System - Facts:

Criminal Justice System - Facts 4,237,023 1,118,097

Criminal Justice System - Facts:

Criminal Justice System - Facts Big Point : The number of Americans in jail, prison, or on probation has increased significantly in the past 30 years at a rate far greater than population growth.

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate:

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate 2005 Prison/jail rate, per 100,000 of population

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate:

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate 2005 Prison/jail rate, per 100,000 of population

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate:

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate 2005 Prison/jail rate, per 100,000 of population

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate:

U.S. – World’s Highest Prison Rate 2005 Prison/jail rate, per 100,000 of population US, 714

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R:

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R In 2000, the U.S. Bishops came out with Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice . On incarcerating more people : “Renewed emphasis should be placed on parole and probation systems as alternatives to incarceration , especially for non-violent offenders.”

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R:

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R On building more prisons : “We call upon government to redirect the vast amount of public resources away from building more and more prisons and toward better and more effective programs aimed at crime prevention, rehabilitation, education efforts, substance abuse treatment , and programs of probation, parole, and reintegration.”

From Prisons to Education?:

From Prisons to Education?

Issue #2 – Purpose of Prison?:

Issue #2 – Purpose of Prison?

Prison: Traditional Reasons:

Prison: Traditional Reasons retribution : giving a deserved punishment to a criminal deterrence : convincing others to avoid crime rehabilitation : helping prisoners become responsible citizens who no longer wish to commit crimes

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R:

U.S. Bishops – R, R, and R “Our criminal justice system should punish offenders and, when necessary, imprison them to protect society. Their incarceration, however, should be about more than punishment . Since nearly all inmates will return to society, prisons must be places where offenders are challenged, encouraged, and rewarded for efforts to change their behaviors and attitudes, and where they learn the skills needed for employment and life in community.”

Issue #3 – Fair System for the Poor?:

Issue #3 – Fair System for the Poor?

ABA Report – Broken Promise:

ABA Report – Broken Promise In 2004, the American Bar Association published a report on the poor’s access to legal counsel - Gideon's Broken Promise: America's Continuing Quest For Equal Justice.

ABA Report – Broken Promise:

ABA Report – Broken Promise A summary of the findings: “Overall, our hearings support the disturbing conclusion that thousands of persons are processed through America’s courts every year either with no lawyer at all or with a lawyer who does not have the time, resources, or in some cases the inclination to provide effective representation. All too often, defendants plead guilty, even if they are innocent, without really understanding their legal rights or what is occurring. Sometimes the proceedings reflect little or no recognition that the accused is mentally ill or does not adequately understand English. The fundamental right to a lawyer that Americans assume apply to everyone accused of criminal conduct effectively does not exist in practice for countless people across the United States” (iv).