What Is the Meaning of Criminal Justice?

The criminal justice system handles criminal offenders.

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, apprehend, punish and incarcerate criminals.

Corrections

Criminals can be sentenced to jail time.

The corrections system includes jails, prisons, probation offices and all those involved with upholding a penalty given by the court system.

Courts

The United States has federal, state and local court systems.

A judge or jury decides the guilt or innocence of a defendant based on evidence and testimony, and sentences the person to a punishment. The evidence is gathered by local law enforcement.

Local law enforcement

Once arrested, a suspect is innocent until proved guilty.

The police and investigators in local communities are often the first to respond to a crime report. They take notes, take people in for questioning and place suspects under arrest.

Crime prevention

To prevent crime, police officers lead educational programs.

Local law enforcement offices and local court officials sometimes seek to stop crime before it happens, working through programs to stop repeat offenders and to use education to deter crime.

Juvenile justice

Juveniles face a different justice system.

Criminal offenders under age 18 enter a justice system different than the adult justice system and face different punishments.

References

• National Criminal Justice Reference System: about criminal justice