Police departments and Sheriff’s Offices across the country is the first step of the criminal justice system. Whether it is at the local, state, or federal level, the law enforcement officer plays a major role in the successful prosecution of a defendant. Law enforcement officers are the first on the scene when victims call for assistance and must determine if a crime in fact was committed. …show more content…
A magistrate from the county jail will issue a warrant after probable cause has been established. The suspect will stand before the magistrate and the charges, bond amount, and court date will be giving to them. “After the charges have been filed the suspect is now the defendant” (Bohm, Hailey, 2012, p.9.). The defendant will now proceed through the different levels of the court system until their case have been resolved.
Correction is the third and final stage of the criminal justice system. During this stage of the criminal justice system, the defendant will be sentenced to a punishment that meets the severity of the crime. The defendant could be placed on probation or confined to a correctional facility, which will be dictated by the state sentencing guidelines. These resolves the case unless the defendant appeals the judge's decision.
The three criminal justice systems work in conjunction to provide the citizens with the successful prosecution of criminals. Getting the bad guys off the streets and protecting the citizens of the United States is a priority for all. I really enjoyed this assignment and I look forward to the challenges