Criminal Justice

The process of writing a thesis is both frustrating and rewarding. Students complain about the drudgery of the task and the lack of time to complete it. These complaints provide lessons on how to…

Whether it's a police officer or a paralegal, graduates of a criminal justice program may choose from a variety of career options. Before graduation, however, a senior project is likely to be…

Television shows that follow crime scene investigators have multiplied in recent years leading to a growing interest among average Americans in fingerprint techniques. Some of these procedures are…

Traffic tickets have long-range implications for many drivers. Automobile insurance rates almost always rise in the wake of a ticket, and multiple infractions can lead to license revocation or…

The Sixth Amendment protects the ability of Americans to be tried by a jury in criminal cases of sufficient magnitude; some civil trials are also tried by juries. The exact method of jury selection…

Jurisdiction refers to the power of a court to decide a particular case. The rules on jurisdiction control when and in what court, or division of the court system, a party can request relief or…

Job training programs for ex-offenders provide the specific job skills that a inmate needs to leave jail, apply for and begin a job. These programs provide an ex-offender with a number of advantages:…

Latent fingerprints are any fingerprints left on objects and surfaces. At the scene of a crime, detectives search for, and collect, latent fingerprints and check them against the prints in a database…

The U.S. Constitution guarantees a person charged with a crime the right to a speedy and public trial where he's confronted with the witnesses against him and can obtain witnesses in his favor -- and…

Many people who hear the word terrorist usually assume that it's a reference to an individual or organization that engages in the planning, preparation, carrying out or aiding of an act of terrorism.…

Fingerprints are the ultimate identifier. They have been used to solve crimes for upwards of a century. Fingerprints single-handedly transformed the world of crime scene investigation because are…

Because each state within the United States is recognized as an individual and autonomous jurisdiction within the republic, laws can differ from state to state. As a result, law enforcement agents…

Modern jurisprudence, or the philosophy of law, strives to illuminate the nature of law, legal reasoning, legal institutions and legal systems. Many theories abound, and no school exists as an…

When a person is accused of having committed a crime, it is necessary for him to return to the jurisdiction in which the alleged crime took place in order to stand trial. When a person is arrested in…

In addition to being incarcerated, female offenders often share many characteristics in common. While each offender's history and life experience is unique, women who engage in violent crime typically…

Questions of ethics and morality have intrigued and baffled philosophers for millennia. Indeed, moral and ethical theories come in all shapes and sizes. Having some criteria by which to classify them…

Fingerprints can be classified as one of three basic patterns: loop, arch and whorl. These patterns are characterized by the appearance of the ridges that compose the print. Minutiae points -- the…

Texas requires periodic jury duty by citizens residing throughout the state, including in Dallas. Texas law provides for compensation for jurors who are selected on a daily basis. As of publication,…

Corruption can occur at any stage of the criminal justice process. A police officer may plant evidence, a prosecutor may drop charges or a judge may render an unwarranted verdict, all in exchange for…

The deliberations of jurors are protected by the law. To make their decisions, jurors are supposed to be influenced only by the content of the evidence provided before the court. However, there have…

Though jury duty may be inconvenient and time-consuming, the Constitution guarantees every American the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. However, not every potential juror is a…

A court of common pleas docket can refer to either the general schedule of the court or the case file containing information about a cause of action before the court of common pleas. It is more common…

Several different methods exist for retrieving fingerprints from a crime scene, including the use of powders, glues, magnifiers and ultraviolet lights. Which procedure is the best depends on the…

The United States jury system is derived from the concept of democracy. A jury trial is composed of a group of U.S. citizens randomly selected from a massive group of individuals. Persons on the jury…

In the legal world there are a number of types of proceedings that take place, and depositions and interrogations are two common occurrences that share some similarities, but many differences. If you…

While all feminist theorists share a common focus on gender inequality, there are differing views on the source of the problem and the ultimate solution. Feminism then is best described as a set of…

A deposition and a trial have some things in common. For example, during a deposition or a trial witnesses are placed under oath and expected to tell the truth. Another similarity between a trial and…

Extradition occurs when a person held in one state is transported to another state to stand trial for crimes. While nations may have extradition treaties with each other, U.S. states also maintain…

Typology is making a classification of something according to a generalized type. It also involves using such classifications to analyze or study a particular thing. In regards to criminology,…

Criminology theory seeks to explain, in a scientific fashion, the reasons why people commit crimes. While distinct components in criminology theory try to stand alone to explain criminal behavior,…

The American judicial system was created on the basis that every person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you are charged with a crime, you have the right to a trial by a jury of…

Theories of law are fundamental concepts that underlie, unify and explain actual legal codes and their enforcement. Schools of jurisprudence are more technical and specific, but derive from theories…

Why do people commit crimes? Criminologists tend to answer this question in one of two ways. One school of thought says that people commit crimes because of social factors such as poverty. The other…

The right to legal counsel for persons accused of a crime is one that is often taken for granted in the United States. Yet the development of this valuable right evolved over many years. Although…

State and federal law mandate the release of Texas offender information to the public.The Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides general offender information by internet, phone and e-mail.…

A docket sheet lists the events in a case, normally in chronological order. Criminal case dockets will indicate how a defendant, or accused person, pleaded, or responded, to criminal charges. Common…

Salaries for careers in criminal justice vary widely. The education website EduDecisions.com states that the pay for criminal justice jobs ranges between $24,000 and $170,700 per year. According to…

In a jury trial, the outcome is decided by a jury selected from the public, rather than by a judge, who oversees what is called a bench trial. All evidence that's given at trial has to follow the…

New technology -- home computers, smart phones, laptops, and the Internet -- creates new avenues of opportunity for criminals. No longer does the criminal have to actually break into your house to rob…

California's penal code spells out specific requirements for scheduling trial dates in court cases, including the maximum number of days that can transpire before a defendant's arraignment and trial,…

Pattern jury instructions are sample instructions designed to be given to juries when deciding a criminal or civil case. Pattern jury instructions in North Carolina, which are published by the…

The facts of a case play a big part in a jury's verdict. But jurors also consider intangible factors in their decisions. From a defendant's appearance to a crime's seriousness, and even the community…

In addition to federal criminal justice laws, each state has the ability to pass its own crime laws specific to the state, if its citizens vote them into law. The goal of these initiatives is to…

Americans hold their rights sacrosanct; this is especially so for those voluntarily risking their lives in defense of those rights. Reservists in Illinois who are called up for deployment have rights…

Youth sentencing allows a court to fix a juvenile offender's academic and behavioral problems, so as to give a teenage delinquent a second chance and empower him with the necessary tools to live a…

The history of U.S. probation dates back to the 19th century when a Boston boot-maker participated in the rehabilitation of a common drunkard. John Augustus receives the credit for establishing the…

The Victorian era (1837-1901) saw many of the same types of crime as previous and later eras, from drunk and disorderly conduct to theft, rape and murder. During Victorian years, even minor thefts…

Americans often refer to the U.S. Constitution when describing the nation's criminal justice system. But many watchdog organizations and researchers say racial and cultural disparities exist…

In all criminal cases, both the prosecution and defense have the right to a fair trial. A particular witness may be essential to the defense or the prosecution's case. If a witness is absent, the…

Resource materials abound for everyone involved in the criminal justice system. Best-suited resources will depend heavily on your role within the criminal justice system. For instance, law enforcement…

As a citizen of the United States who is summoned for jury duty, your civic duty is to serve. If you are not excused for jury duty during the interview process and are going to be attending the trial,…

Jury trials are criminal or civil trials where a panel of citizens determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant. A hallmark of the American legal system, the right to a jury trial is enshrined in…

With one of the largest prison systems in the United States, Texas's criminal justice system is managed by dozens of different divisions functioning under the umbrella of the Texas Department of…

Qualitative research methods for gathering data in a criminal justice environment include observing behaviors of small groups of people, focus groups, interviews and individual case studies.…

Criminal justice refers to the system that aims to balance the goals of crime control and prevention and also to protect individual rights. One of its main concerns is bringing offenses to justice…

The U.S. and state constitutions provide criminal defendants with the absolute right to a jury trial if he so chooses. The U.S. Constitution does not provide for the right to a jury in a civil trial,…

Criminal justice is referred to as the system of practices and governmental institutions that resolves disputes in crime prevention. This is the reason why some research projects can be based on the…

Parole is a process in which prisoners receive conditional and supervised release from jail before the completion of their sentences. The possibility of parole is determined at initial sentencing.…

Probation offers some offenders the opportunity to stay in the community instead of serving time in prison. Since the beginning of community supervision in 1841, probation has proven to be an…

Orders of protection prevent an individual from having any contact with the petitioner. If the petitioner has been threatened by the individual, a temporary order of protection can be entered "ex…

A jury is a group of usually 12 citizens who are appointed, and sworn, to give an impartial verdict on a matter that a court submits to them. This can involve determining whether a defendant is guilty…

The ancient debate of nature versus nurture has influenced psychologists to take interest in criminology. In studying criminal behavior, many psychologists and scientists have devised theories meant…

The court trial date is the first day of a legal preceding. All parties involved in the case or trial must arrive on time to avoid rescheduling or accrued legal penalties. You can obtain a trial date…

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides parolee release dates via telephone, email and the Internet at no charge. Public information includes the offender's TDCJ number, offender location,…

A plea is an answer to a criminal accusation. Accused persons, or defendants, who enter "guilty" pleas admit criminal activity, while those who plead "no contest" accept punishment without admitting…

The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court and gave Congress the authority to establish "lesser courts" as necessary. Congress established district courts for general matters and special…

Addressing the needs of victims during the criminal justice process can prove emotionally taxing and often involves sensitive and uncomfortable memories. Depending on the severity of the crime,…

Extradition is when one state or nation hands over an individual to another state or nation either for a criminal trial or punishment. Being extradited between states in the United States takes into…

Potential jurors are randomly selected from a jury pool made up of citizens' names. Jurors work with a judge to hear a criminal or civil case and determine the facts. A jury is made up of individuals…

In criminal justice, integration projects aim to make information more available by building an integrated and accessible data storage system. Integrated data storage systems make information on…

As a member of the public, you have the right to know when a prison inmate is released. Each state has a Department of Corrections website that includes an inmate search database. However, if an…

Individuals living in prisons are there to have certain freedoms of life restricted after being convicted of criminal activity. The goal of prison is to both punish and rehabilitate the inmates, with…

Popular criminal justice argument topics include capitol punishment, cruel and unusual punishment, unlawful search and seizures, rights against self incrimination and Constitutional protections.…

Criminal trials technically begin as soon as one side files the formal criminal charges. However, the physical criminal trial does not begin until a judge sets a court date and that date arrives.…

Whether you are a friend or family member of a Texas inmate or member of the public, finding an inmate's release date is simple and takes minutes to do. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice…

Finding an inmate incarcerated at the Kilby Correctional Facility in Montgomery, Alabama, is simple with online access. Kilby Correctional is a maximum security prison for men built in 1969. It offers…

The Oregon State Department of Corrections holds a population of more than 15,000 inmates in 15 separate state correctional facilities as of 2011. With such a large, spread-out population, there is…

It is possible to learn how to lift latent fingerprints from most surfaces. It is, however, easier to first start using a smooth and flat surface, such as a glass table. You can find fingerprinting…

Of the service members convicted of crimes worthy of placement in a military correctional facility, one in six is stripped of the honor to serve and discharged. Current and former service members may…

Finding the release date of a friend or loved one from a Texas state prison or jail entails a navigation of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, or TDCJ (the agency used to be known as the Texas…

Juvenile justice is the system to try and legally punish minors who have committed crimes. This system is distinct from the adult system; the juvenile justice system tries the same offense differently…

Fire department combination fill-in policies are procedures set in place during the absences of a fire engineer, captain, deputy chief or paramedic. Anyone from the team can normally fill in for a…

Academics say that students benefit from living on campus. As student enrollments at universities nationwide goes up, there is increased need for student housing. Construction of new housing could be…

Many hundreds of thousands of people are involved in one or other area of the United States criminal justice system. This includes police, prison and parole officers, judges, and lawyers. The…

The link between the need for instant gratification and criminal behavior is not difficult to see. An inability to deal with the frustration of everyday life can lead to violence, as a person lashes…

Criminal laws are a reflection of certain values of the society in which the laws exist. Crime has been defined as a wrong against society proclaimed by law. However, in the United States, scholars…

The laws regarding hitchhiking in California are somewhat vague, which leaves them difficult to interpret by the public. Hitchhikers are frequently seen thumbing their way across the state and finding…

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has created a system to track inmates housed in their jails. All inmates are assigned a TDCJ number to help loved ones and officials track their…

If the criminal mind wasn't insecure enough already, evidence shows that fingerprints left behind on rough surfaces, such as those found on concrete blocks, can be identified.

The Ector County Detention Center is located just South of Odessa, Texas. The Ector County Sheriff's Office oversees the Detention Center and have updated lists of all the inmates who are in their…

Understanding the different communication styles is crucial to obtain the information needed during a criminal investigation. Using the proper style can improve relations between law enforcement and…

Police car jurisdiction laws vary widely by state, county and municipality as do the basic rules of police car etiquette when that car leaves its jurisdiction. Police are expected to abide by the laws…

In order to prevent the mistreatment of or discrimination against criminals of other states, the Founding Fathers created a section of laws on the states and extradition. Under this set of laws,…

A Ph.D. in criminal justice enables you to make a difference in your community by initiating positive changes in the legal system and society itself. Candidates may specialize in forensics, public…

Whether to try terrorism suspects in civilian courts or military tribunals has been a controversial issue in the United States. People on opposite sides of the issue disagree on the fairness and…

East Texas consists of over 100 cities and borders the state of Louisiana. There are 137 correctional facilities in operation in the state of Texas housing over 160,000 inmates. The Texas Department…

After the break from Britain, the U.S. founding fathers set forth to create a nation in which people were free to exercise certain rights without fear of unjust prosecution. The people needed a way to…

The Oregon Department of Corrections maintains a database of incarcerated inmates. This database is accessible to the public and can be searched by anyone. Though the official Department of…

Juries are integral to the US justice system. While aspects of trials are different, the duties of a juror are relatively the same. Those duties include listening to evidence and rendering a verdict…

The criminal justice system is the means by which criminals are either convicted of a crime or released. The criminal justice system is composed of the police, courts and correctional facilities.…

Law enforcement officers across the country use computers as part of their job, whether it in their squad cars or the office. To ensure all officers can keep up with changes in technology, training is…

If you are concerned that your neighborhood or city are becoming unsafe, checking the crime rate can be your first step toward security. It can also be helpful in determining whether or not parts of…

Psychological evaluations as described in guidelines by the American Psychological Association exist as a way to help determine custody and parental rights in regards to the best interest of the…

Sinton, Texas is in the heart of San Patricio County about 30 miles north of Corpus Christi. According to the Sinton Police Department's Uniform Crime Report, in 2009 the city averaged about 33…

Public figures, whether politicians, attorneys or judges, often travel on official business, requiring American taxpayers to fund their trips. In the middle of 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice…

Probation is an alternative sentence enabling someone who has committed a lesser criminal offense to avoid jail. Probation is a conditional release given instead of a jail sentence, where the person…

The classical theory in criminal justice suggests that an individual who brakes the law does so with rational free will, understanding the effects of their actions. As a response to a criminal's…

Jurors are chosen from a random jury pool generated from lists of registered voters and/or voters and holders of drivers licenses in the judicial district. Questionnaires help determine which of these…

Though some people consider it an inconvenience, jury duty is an important civic duty and a hallmark of the American court system. Jurors are randomly selected from a jury pool and serve on juries in…

Defining the fine line between right and wrong can be hard in the legal system. Before there were any concrete laws in place, judges and courts had to decide according to natural law, because there…

Fingerprints are one of the most well-known ways of identifying people, and dusting for fingerprints is part of most police investigations. Recent research suggests that everyone's ears may be just as…

Criminal law includes the rules and laws that were established by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures. These deal with any criminal action that can cause harm to the public. Criminal law includes…

Alexandria, Virginia, located approximately 7.5 miles from the District of Columbia, is one of the oldest cities in the United States. While there are many shops, restaurants and other attractions in…

Extradition refers to the legal process in which one jurisdiction transfers an apprehended criminal to another jurisdiction for purposes of prosecuting criminal activity. The Commonwealth of Virginia…

A divorce proceeding is a type of civil lawsuit in Georgia. Under the Georgia constitution, all parties in a civil lawsuit have the absolute right to a trial by jury. Although most divorce cases are…

Doing an asset check involves searching for possible assets of a person or business entity. This type of investigation may need to start by first locating the person or business for whose assets you…

A congressional committee recommended that the development of the Youth Correction Authority Act be continued after the original introduction to six states was not well received. This act was…

In today's Information Age, finding where someone lives can be as easy as clicking a mouse and typing a few words into a search engine. Before the Internet, obtaining information from a government…

No two people have the same set of fingerprints, which is why detectives collect fingerprints at crime scenes to use as identification tools. A clear set of fingerprints easily ties criminals to their…

In many states when a driver is arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI, sometimes driving under the influence (DUI)), his vehicle is impounded. In some circumstances, the vehicle may…

The criminal justice system is the legal apparatus for handling defendants who are accused of violating a jurisdiction's criminal code. An attorney must develop a strategy to navigate a case through…

Cybercrime is one type of criminal activity that is increasing because this type of crime is not restricted to those with high levels of knowledge of computers. Some cybercrimes are committed by…

The federal government, state and local governments, labor organizations, employment agencies and private employers with at least 20 employees implement and follow an array of federal Equal Employment…

From the time a crime is committed to the time prosecution is completed, or the charges against a suspect are dismissed, the type of crime alleged to have been committed is fundamental to the legal…

The rise in popularity of social networking sites has lead to a corresponding increase in online criminals preying upon unsuspecting victims on the Internet. These victims can be corporations, adults…

Doing more with less is the prevailing reality in many criminal justice agencies. The budgets of law enforcement agencies and correctional systems may shrink, but public demands for criminals to be…

Psychologists are often consulted by various courts for their opinions and evaluations of an individual's psychological profile. The psychological tests used and whether they are admissible as…

There are many schools of thought in the criminal justice system. One of the most prevalent is choice theory. Choice theory seeks to explain why criminals break the law.

The Criminal Justice Act is a collection of laws, regulations, guidelines and procedures for approaching criminal behaviors in the United Kingdom (UK). The act was revised in 1988, 2003, and then…

Stress among law enforcement officers---including police, FBI and prison officers--is a little studied problem. With the constant barrage of negative publicity against police (specifically), job…

There are many pervasive beliefs that exist in the criminal justice system. Widespread views about crime and crime-related issues have been, in many instances, distorted into myths that have become…

Texas has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country. As of 2005, the state oversaw a prison population of over 150,000 inmates, which is 41 percent higher than the national average.…

Criminal justice organizations include police, courts and corrections, more commonly referred to as prisons or jails. Each of these organizations face a number of challenges. The leaders of these…

In the United States, about 10 million people each year fall victim to identity theft, according to Spam Laws. Even though you have proof of identity theft, you may still need legal assistance to…

The criminal justice funnel refers to the process through which the number of criminal matters pending is decreased until only a small percentage of cases needs to be resolved by trial advocacy and…

It is necessary for ex-offenders to have support groups and opportunities for a second chance or fresh start if they are to get out of the cycle of lifelong habits that can cause subsequent incidents.…

Criminal justice is the process of understanding the laws, convicting the criminals, analyzing the faults of the criminals, and then evaluating the form of punishment. The system of criminal justice…

The U.K. Parliament passed the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to amend prior criminal justice legislation. This included the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. In…

Everyone agrees that the organizations comprising the criminal justice system should be effective and efficient, but few agree on how to measure that effectiveness. A valid evaluation of a criminal…

Learn to communicate with all the individuals involved in a criminal case in order to achieve the most favorable results in the most time efficient manner. Use the Rule of Law to your benefit and…

The traditional way to deal with criminal behavior is incarceration, which refers to the practice of placing people who break the law in jail or prison for a specified period of time. Most nations in…

The U.S. Department of Justice classifies Biker Gangs as Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, or OMGs. OMGs are included in the National Gang Threat Assessment conducted periodically by the Department of Justice.…

A wide variety of people read all types of criminal justice reports, from Joe Citizen to judges to law enforcement personnel to other community professionals. Well-written reports offer clear…

The Canadian House of Commons passed The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), known as Bill C-7, on February 4, 2002, to address weaknesses and build on strengths from the Young Offenders Act that was…

Criminal justice case management, such as that employed by probation or parole officers, domestic violence counselors and substance abuse treatment programs, tracks an offender's progress through the…

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, criminologists' findings in the field of victimology have major implications for the criminal justice system. Until the mid-20th century, attention was…

The United Kingdom passed the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) of 1966 in an effort to set rules and provisions regarding criminal cases for homicide and suicide, as well as to set the…

The Theft & Fraud Offences Act is an alternate title for Ireland's 2001 Criminal Justice act. The Act is significant because it specifically enumerates several examples of thievery while also noting…

The criminal justice system is composed of several inter-dependent organizations, policies and actors that work together in order to attempt a thoroughly consistent process of dealing with criminal…

The Criminal Justice Act of 1988 is an act in the United Kingdom meant to clarify and establish new criminal codes. One of the most important parts of the act is the issue of confiscation of proceeds…

In 1950, the United Kingdom signed the European Convention on Human Rights. Rules enumerated under that convention, which include basic rights of the accused, only became directly enforceable under…

Canada is one of many countries that has a law in place that forces courts to treat juveniles, or young offenders, differently than adults. The earliest inception of this law was the Juvenile…

The Youth Criminal Justice Act, YCJA for short, came into effect in 2003. It is a Canadian bill that deals with crimes committed by persons between the ages of 12 and 18, focusing on prevention of…

In the United Kingdom, those accused of a crime have the right to remain silent. However, when silence is used to omit certain facts, the accused may face negative effects in court under Section 34 of…

The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution specifically protects citizens against double jeopardy, or being tried for the same criminal offense more than once. There are three specific…

Prison populations have increased at a dramatic rate in the last 30 years. To investigate the reasons behind this increase of prisoners, to determine if changes can be made to sentencing and…

The Criminal Justice and Court Service Act of 2000 was approved by the government of England and Wales as a way to establish two new services, the National Probation Service and the Children and…

According to the UK government's Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) the Criminal Justice Act was passed into law on November 20, 2003. One of the main areas affected by the act was court…

Ireland set in place the Criminal Justice Evidence Act of 1924 as a way to determine how evidence would be used in criminal cases in the country of Ireland. This act was passed by the House of the…

The government of Ireland passed the Criminal Justice act of 1994 to set rules about "the recovery of the proceeds of drug trafficking and other offenses." This act also outlines laws about properties…

The new laws of the Youth Justice Criminal Act (YJCA) took effect on April 1, 2003, in Canada. This act strives to teach youths to take responsibility for their actions and commits to showing them how…

The Criminal Justice Administration Act of 1914 is one of several such acts passed in the United Kingdom with the intent of clarifying aspects of the criminal code. The 1914 Act is one of the…

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects individual rights and ensures fairness during legal proceedings, especially criminal cases. Legal scholar Bruce A. MacFarlane argues that Canada,…

Criminal justice research provides practitioners with data that helps them find ways system to operate more efficiently. Police, judges and correctional personnel use both quantitative and…

The criminal justice field is varied and multifaceted. Criminal justice is the study of the laws surrounding criminal behavior, as well as the court system, corrections and the operational system. In…

The prison and jail system in the state of Texas is very large and composed of the state prisons, jails and certain private institutions all under the oversight of the Department of Criminal Justice.…

The criminal justice system can be broke down into four different parts which include: police, courts, corrections and the juvenile justice system. All of these components contribute their own…

Criminal justice is the system set up to deal with criminal offenses. This system includes local law enforcement, the courts and the jails and prisons. These elements work together to investigate,…

The Criminal Justice Act of 2003 is one of many amendments to the British criminal justice code. The Act became law on Nov. 20, 2003 and deals with a wide variety of issues and clarifies specific…

As an issue of public policy, criminal justice has traditionally been a function of state and local governments. However, criminal justice has become an issue of increasing importance at the federal…

Adults with substance abuse issues commit many crimes. When adults enter the criminal justice system through community supervision or incarceration, law enforcement personnel assess offender needs and…

A liability is something that works to the disadvantage of someone or something. From a legal perspective, it means responsibility for something that has gone wrong. It involves being legally bound to…

Criminologists, or those who study criminal justice, analyze the nature, causes and control of criminal activity. Criminology is an interdisciplinary field, using the concepts of psychology, sociology…

The probation and parole department has many different functions in the criminal justice system. The probation staff are more than just babysitters. Probation may be imposed on an offender in lieu of…

In an attempt to deter criminals from committing crimes after they have been released, the criminal justice system adopts a number of case management techniques they hope will reduce recidivism rates.…

The criminal justice system is a vast and complex system with its own terminology and phrases. People within different departments of the criminal justice system may use specific language that other…

In December of 1997, the government of New Zealand passed its Public Harassment Act, setting out, defining and providing penalties for actions considered harassing. This act also permitted the issuing…

Evaluation is an important activity in gauging the performance of any public agency, and the agencies that comprise the criminal justice system are no exception. Performance evaluations of law…

When crime scene investigators (CSI's) are called to a crime scene, their job is to collect evidence that leads to solving a crime. This includes the finding, dusting, recovering and preserving of…

Criminal justice management applies the principles of public administration to the management and leadership of the criminal justice system. This includes administration of law enforcement agencies,…

Occasionally, in lieu of being incarcerated, convicted offenders will be ordered to undergo a type of rehabilitation, often as a condition of their parole or probation. These rehabilitation programs…

The Crime Victims With Disabilities Act of 2008 (CVDA) (S. 3668) was a proposed piece of legislation introduced to Congress by then-Senator Joseph R. Biden on October 1, 2008. The purpose of the CVDA…

What happens if a person is charged with a crime in one state but is living in another? Extradition is the process by which a prisoner or accused person is taken from one state to another for criminal…

In the past 30 years, schools have seen a sharp increase in the connection between criminal acts and school campuses. School shootings, bullying, sexual harassment and drug abuse keeps educators busy…

More than 110,000 people work for the U.S. Department of Criminal Justice, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The department is charged with all issues of justice and oversees a wide variety of federal…

Criminal forfeiture is a punitive measure imposed on an individual or a criminal organization convicted of a crime. When an indictment occurs, property used or obtained with fruits of the crime is…

Commutation of a criminal sentence is extremely rare, and is generally sought only after all other legal options have been exhausted. A commutation is not a parole or pardon, and legally is not one.…

A judge, a lawyer, a law enforcement officer, and a layperson all have an interest in the issue of fairness in criminal justice. Judges need to apply fairness. Lawyers want to ensure that their…

Criminal justice seminars and conferences are a way for lawyers, legal support staff, administration, court systems, law enforcement officials, judges and other individuals involved in criminal law to…

Asset seizure laws stem from the Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Program, which was enacted by Congress in 1984 as part of the Comprehensive Crime Act. These laws permit the federal…

Jurisdiction is defined as the power of a court to adjudicate cases, or the boundaries of the territory within which the court can exercise its power. This applies to whether a court has jurisdiction…

Community supervision, known as probation or parole, offers criminals the opportunity to remain in society and demonstrate that they can become productive, law-abiding citizens. There are several…

In criminal justice, policy makers increasingly want to know what works in preventing crime and reducing recidivism among criminals. Training in evaluation techniques enables law enforcement…

In general terms, jurisdiction within the criminal justice system refers to the authority to handle a criminal case. It can refer to geographical boundaries, or to legal restrictions on which courts…

Inmate information has become much easier to find today thanks to the Internet and online resources. Texas is no exception. A wealth of information both online and through local law enforcement…

Computers are used to commit crimes from bullying to international terrorism to spreading child pornography. In the past 30 years, as computers have become more accessible and more part of everyday…

The term criminal justice can refer to a variety of things. It may refer to the course of collegiate study or it could refer to the components of the law that relate to criminal justice. It can also…

The purpose of equal opportunity criminal justice is to offer those convicted or suspected of a crime fair treatment throughout their arrest, trial, sentencing, imprisonment and reintroduction back…

President Richard Nixon established the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1973 to provide the United States with a unified and effective way to battle illegal drugs and controlled substance…

Crimes are generally thought of as acts that offend social values. But some crimes, like jaywalking, aren't morally reprehensible. Though criminal law is one of the most concrete and immediate areas…

Victimology is the study of victims of crimes. The goal of the study of victimology is to explain why a person is attacked by a criminal and victimized. Victimology has evolved over the years.…

Research is the primary tool for advancing a body of knowledge, including the field of criminal justice. Research helps students, scholars, criminal justice professionals and government policy makers…

The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), which went into effect on April 1, 2003, replaced Canada's previous legislation on youth crime, the Young Offenders Act (YOA). The YCJA addressed problems with…

A woman is physically abused by her husband every nine seconds within the United States, according to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte Women's Abuse Network. Anywhere from one third to one…

Criminal justice offers many career possibilities, including law enforcement and crime scene investigation. Academic programs around the country can provide you with the education needed to become a…

Marianna, Florida, nicknamed "The City of Southern Charm," is located in northern Florida in Jackson County. There are several colleges near the small city of 6,200 people.

The field of criminal justice allows for a wide assortment of research interests, and as such, only a student's imagination limits this research. From issues of fairness and accuracy in sentencing to…

The fields of criminology and criminal justice exist as separate academic disciplines. Criminology draws from the behavioral social sciences to explain criminal behavior and societal responses, while…

Testimony is important evidence in any criminal trial. Testimony is a firsthand account given by a witness under oath during a criminal trial. There are several different types of testimony, including…

There are numerous agencies that deal, in one form or another, with criminal justice. The nature of the agency reflects the specialty within this very broad field. Distinctions among agency types also…

On television, "Columbo" and "Matlock" were able to tell if someone was lying by the way he tied his shoes. While this may have been an exaggeration for dramatic purposes, an experienced criminal…

Criminal policies, such as those affecting victims, clemency and how to prosecute drug violations, are often informed by federal policies, with the details set by the state legislatures. Idaho is no…

The criminal justice field is one that can be researched in depth very easily. From corrections to legal statutes, there is no dearth of subjects to choose from. Research in this field is done by a…

Criminal investigators are also known as detectives and are usually employed by a government agency. Criminal investigators investigate individuals who are suspected of breaking the law and performing…

Criminal justice involves investigations, evidence collection, arrests, court proceedings and post-conviction issues. Careers in criminal justice require various levels of education, from a high…

Criminal justice reports were created to serve as a resource tool for law enforcement, according to the FBI, which manages the Uniform Crime Report program. Now criminal justice reports serve as…

A career in criminal justice is an option for people with various backgrounds and interests. There are opportunities available in local law enforcement, state law enforcement, federal law enforcement,…

Retribution in the criminal justice system refers to the idea that offenders should be punished for committing crimes when they freely violate existing social rules. Retribution would not support…

Discretion in criminal justice is used primarily during three phases of a case by a prosecuting attorney. Discretion is relevant in determining whether a person is to be charged with a crime in the…

Throughout the history of the criminal justice system, various psychology methods have been used by law enforcement for criminal profiling, by the courts to determine immediate needs of offenders in…

Conflict theory is a field of sociology that focuses on competition and the dynamics of conflicting interests between different social groups as the fundamental force underpinning culture and…

In nearly all justice systems, the main firepower is reserved for the lead offender in a crime; however, those who help that person escape punishment by concealing facts are not forgotten. Under the…

Nearly every country has established one of the two major world legal systems: civil law and common law. Common law is practiced in the United Kingdom and in the United States. Criminal procedure is…

Criminal justice is the field of law concerned with defining crimes, identifying people who have committed crimes, proving criminal charges by applicable legal standards and applying appropriate…

During the 1920s, police chiefs across the United States recognized a need for reliable national crime statistics to help track crime rates across the country. This led to the development of the…

Criminal justice is defined as the group of practices, policies and courts designed to uphold social responsibility, deterring and mitigating crimes and enforcing penalties against those who are found…

Alternative sentencing means crafting appropriate punishments for criminal convictions other than traditional prison terms, probation and parole. Rising prison populations and their associated costs…

In the United States, one of the ways for a victim to participate in the criminal justice process is through a "victim impact statement." A victim impact statement is "written or oral information…

In 1977, Congress enacted the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). This legislation was designed to prevent American corporations from making questionable payments to foreign government officials in…

There are many different criticisms of the United States criminal justice system. This article will explore the competing theories of punishment as well as the arguments related to excessive…

The criminal justice process can be a confusing and frightening thing for everybody that comes in contact with it, from the prosecutor to witnesses to the accused. Fortunately, courts have long…

In 1968, legal scholar Herbert Packer described the two aspects of administering criminal justice in the United States. The first model, due process--which believes in the rights of individuals--is…

The field of criminal justice may deal with some pretty seedy characters, but when it comes to conducting research into cases presented to the courts, two types of methodology will help solve crimes.…

Criminal justice research allows a student to explore an issue of interest in the areas of crime, criminal law and law enforcement. Students can explore a wide range of topics, employing varied…

The criminal justice system, the cutting edge of a society, reflects its changing values. Issues ranging from women's rights to international treaties to media and the law all have criminal justice…

"Crime rate" is a major statistical tool utilized by every faction of law enforcement. It gives a picture of how crime is either growing or slowing down in particular areas. It also details which…

Richard Quinney's book "The Social Reality of Crime" published in 1970 shifted the discussion of criminality from police and courts to issues of social justice. He held that crime was not a static set…

Trial by jury is the climax of a long and often complex journey through the criminal justice process. It is not the beginning of the journey, nor is it the end of the journey towards resolution of…

The Wedding Cake Model Theory of Criminal Justice was developed by Samuel Walker, a scholar who analyzed the judicial system. The theory divides the proceedings in the criminal justice system into…

Criminal justice is the system of law enforcement, attorneys, the courts, the prison system and the parole and probation system that are directly involved in the investigation, arrest, trial,…

Criminal law refers to a type of law that not only dictates a standard of expected behavior but also imposes sanctions or punishments if an individual fails to comply with that law. Criminal law is…

Criminal justice denotes the policies involving law enforcement, including all legal measures designed to promote proper implementation, through impartial treatment, as intended by society.…

Disparity in criminal justice refers to inequity of arrests and sentencing for certain groups of people; it nearly always refers to racial and ethnic disparity. Racial disparity has been definitively…

Although personal liberty is an abstract and fairly fluid concept, it is also the basis of modern democratic society. The right to exist in society as a free person who has the right to "life, liberty…