Making sense of the criminal justice system

Summary:

·       Every year there are at least 60 million 911 calls

·       2.2 million can be found in jail or in prison

·       About 4000 will die in jail or in prison each year.

·       It is impossible to detangle politics from the operations of criminal justice system as all law enforcement

·       The media plays a large role in influencing how we do our jobs

·       Arguably the Supreme Court plays the largest role in determine and influencing how the criminal justice system functions.

·       Criminal and social theories of deviance are always present in our methods

·       Local state politicians also have influences over the functioning of the criminal justice system.

·       Critical criminology deals with feminist and Marxist theories

·       No area in the criminal justice system can avoid the effects of race

·       We must not forget that not only have blacks been treated poorly but many other groups such as American Indians

·       We must also take into account the CSI effect on citizens and jurors

Reflection:

For my last reflection I am going to talk about the scenario presented to us in class about what our plan would be to reduce the prison population while saving money.

            There were a few ideas passed around during class regarding this question, but if I remember correctly all of the ideas (even mine) were reactive. In other words, ideas like more probation, rehab, end 3 strikes, judge/prosecutorial discretion, ect are all ideas for when a crime has already been committed.

            I have learned a lot in the last 3 years about the many areas of the CJ system, and I have taken away a wealth of knowledge. But if I had to choose the one main thing I have learned I would say I have learned that all stages of the CJ system are geared towards a REACTIVE strategy. From police officers who drive around for 8 hours waiting for a 9/11 call, to prosecutors charging 19 year old with a D felony for their first drug possession charge (I know someone this happened to*). What are we doing to address the ROOT CAUSES that lead many to commit deviant acts?

            I know the local police, sherrifs, and state police often times go to elementary school/high schools and talk to kids about not doing drugs ect. But that is no where near good enough if we REALLY TRULY want to reduce crime.

            So I have developed a plan in the past 10 min (bare with me). First issue, drug offenses. People are normally not born drug addicts or criminals. Their turn down a path of crime (drug offenses) often times stems directly from their upbringing. Whether it be parents who are drug addicts, single parent household, abusive households, and so on. I think you would be hardpressed to find a person, that has been charged with a drug offense, that DID NOT have some issue in their childhood and/or upbringing. SO, a couple of PROACTIVE******** ideas to help this issue:

1.     States and the Federal Gov. need to INVEST in parenting class, support groups for single parents, and other things of that nature. AND I do not mean just throw money at it. We really need to INVEST run commericals, post flyers, MAKE IT AS PUBLICALLY KNOWN as possible. Parenting is hard no matter what the situation, but having a support group behind you to help in any way, would in my opinion really help.

2.     This may be a long shot as far as being realistic but just like there is always a judge on call we need to have SOCIAL WORKERS, or someone similar, on call 24/7. There job would be to respond with the police to every DOMESTIC situation, every call dealing with children, every call dealing with drugs, to name a few. This is a more reactive approach but I imagine that if a unbaised social worker responded to the situations above, perhaps those people who may or may not be in trouble, would not feel so overwhelmed, scared, and nervous if they were charged. The job of the social worker would be to sit down with the person before they go to jail or even if they are not going to jail, and just talk to them (confidentially). In my head I picture a 18 year old caught with his parents prescription pain meds. He is facing a D felony, hes scared, embarrassed, ect. If the social worker talked to him and found out that he is taking drugs because his dad just died and he doesn’t know how to deal with the pain, then the social worker could recommend he not be taken to jail (perhaps taken home where he could sit down with his mother and the social worker and talk). Like I said this idea is a long shot and I have not really thought about it enough to come up with a steady plan but it’s a start.

3.     MAKE Psudeophedrine prescription ONLY.

4.     Domestic situations: ABSOULUTLEY NO MANDATORY ARREST policies. I understand police may not be fully trained in dealing with a fight between a husband and wife. But from my personal experiences the police are all to quick to arrest the male with few questions. Example: A guy comes home from work, his wife is mad at him for ummm lets say, not being around enough to help her out or show her affection. She is calling him everything under the sun. 3 hours go by with this continuing,  by now he has had a few beers, and is losing his patience. He gets up to get a beer and is confronted by his wife who verbally lashes out and then smacks him, maybe punches him in the stomach. He then pushes her violently, or maybe smacks her. Police show up see a red mark on her face he goes to jail. Even if found innocent his friends, family, coworkers may very well label him a wife beater.                                                                                                                    I certainly do not condone physical violence by either party. But realistically can we expect MEN to not be aggressive or have natural violent inclination when faced with situations like he was? Unfortunately, men are hardwired for agression, violence, physical responses. Furthermore, many of us deal with stress POORLY therefore we just react naturally in stressful situation. If a social worker came with the police and spoke to both parties and found out that they both regret it and they still love each other and that this outburst by both parties was based on a failure to communicate, cope, and understand eachother. Should the man go to jail and have this charge follow him for a long time? In this case I would say NO. The best approach would be counseling for BOTH parties. Support groups, therapy the whole nine yards. OF COURSE there are many situations that are not so mild in nature. Sometimes guys beat women for no obvious reason. SO I AM NOT saying everyone should get a pass or be sent to councling. BUT a social worker is better equiped to determine the seriousness of the situation, rather or not it’s a freak outburst that is not likely to occur again, or if the guy has a problem that the social worker determines cannot be addressed right away and therefore he should be taken to jail.

5.     Offer a large amount of public outreach programs for current inmates to work in. MAKE INMATES AS PUBICALLY VISABLE as constitutionally allowed. I DO NOT MEAN HUMILIATE them, but have them work more in public like on roads or cleaning up highly visible areas. KIDS, teens, and adults will see them. Kids will ask their parents about the inmate (the parent then can lay the foundation for a lawful path) teens will see their options: 1. Do not commit crimes. 2. Take your chances, but if caught you are going to be the one in orange cleaning up green river road for all to see. Take our meth addicts, sexual offenders, ect and (if they want to) speak to kids, teens, and adults. If we PUT A FACE ON CRIME it is more likely to hit home with younger kids, and teens as opposed to some random commercial showing a guy that the kid will never see in person.

6.     Lastly for now, Sexual offense: Often times the ROOT CAUSE rests in their upbringing so we must ADDRESS that area HEAVILY. We must come up with more ways to help victims feel comfortable and safe when thinking about reporting a sexual violation. In Iraq we always heard about females being raped and most of us expect females in Iraq to be victims of rape more often than males. BUT IN FACT, more America male soldiers were raped by other male soldiers from Uganda, Turkey, and Egypt. However, they victims almost always waited until they were about to fly home for good before reporting it. WE MUST FIND A WAY TO INSTIL TRUST, SECURITY, SAFETY, and Confidence.