The criminal justice system has three components which are the police, courts, and corrections (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). Each part of the system can be termed as sub-system because each one has a variety of organizations and agencies. The first part of the process is the police (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). This is where the crime is reported, investigated, and evidence is collected and protected (The National Center for Victims of Crime, 2017). This is where the offender may be arrested or charged on probable cause. …show more content…
The courts ensure that the offenders due process is guaranteed through the United States Constitution and the proper steps are taken in the justice process (The National Center for Victims of Crime, 2017). You have a prosecutor, defender, and the judge in this process. The prosecutor represents the government throughout the process until there is either an acquitted or sentenced. Then you have the defense this is the attorney that represents the offender through the court process against the government. The defense attorney can be hired or appointed depending on the offender’s ability to pay. Then you have the judge who oversees the process and that the offender gets a fair trial, that any plea agreements are fair for the offender, and then the judge sentences the offender if found