Intro to Criminal Justice is a great introductory class for students who have not yet committed to pursuing a degree in the criminal justice field. The course is a tasty appetizer covering foundational topics such as crime and justice in the United States. After partaking in the course, you will be ready to make a decision as to whether or not to pursue this particular field of study.
Intro to Criminal Justice covers a multitude of criminal and legal subjects. As an overview course, it is inclusive of many foundational elements. One of the fundamental components of the criminal justice field is criminal procedure. And, from criminal procedures, students explore several processes that ensure procedural regularity. Three of the procedural elements reviewed in Intro to Criminal Justice are adversary process, accusatory system, and due process.
The adversary process refers to what evidence the government may present, how they can present it, how the defense may respond to the evidence, and how the defense may present its own evidence. In short, this process explains how both sides can tell their sides the story within the rules and regulations prescribed by the government. Both prosecutor and defense are charged with doing their best to ensure each follow the rules in hopes that their evidence wins the case.
The accusatory system is the criminal side of the adversary process. This system places the burden of proof on the government (in criminal cases). Accusatory system refers to the more familiar term, "innocent until proven guilty," which mean defendants do not have to bare the weight of proving their innocence. On the contrary, the government must prove their guilt. The accusatory system requires the government to secure facts in order to make their case.
Learning about the history of the accusatory system is fascinating. It is based on the supremacy of the individual in a free society and the suspicion of corruptible government power and the abuses that can ensue from corrupted power. In addition to innocent until proven guilty, other characteristics of the accusatory system are the right to remain silent, so that one does not incriminate himself or herself, and the right to an attorney. All of these characteristics exemplify the importance of the individual in the law.
Due process is one of the most important elements of criminal procedure. This process lies within the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. It refers to the two dimensions of due process law: limiting the powers of the government and promoting order, timeliness, and finality in decision-making. In short, due process controls the means that police, prosecutors, and the government can use to enforce criminal law.
These three procedural elements demonstrate the importance of the individual in our society. The criminal procedure respects every individual's dignity, independence, and equality; however, there are times when these very same processes can go against society. The same rules that protect us against government abuse of power also inhibit the search for the truth in individual cases. Consequently, some guilty individuals go free in order to ensure that the government plays by the rules governing criminal procedures.
This article touched upon a few fundamental elements covered in the Introduction to Criminal Justice course. You will learn about other subject matter that will give you a better insight into this adrenaline pumping field. Take the course and see if you would like to study criminal justice throughout your college career. If online college is your forte, you may take a free introductory course in this field through Test Drive College Online. By this way, you can find out if you are really interested in this field, and maybe enroll in an online program through elearners.com.
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