Masters in Criminal Justice Management ~ 2

A.Exquisite
Aug 24, 2024
7 min read

x AALiYah

Critical Analysis of the 'Criminal Justice System'

week 1 objectives:

Discussion
Integrated System
Research

excerpt on my additions to the discussion:

"Week 1 Discussion: Is the Criminal Justice System a True System?

Let's jump right into our Analysis of the Criminal Justice System -

Listen to Dr. Wxxxxxxx, former Chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland, briefly analyze the three components of the criminal justice system - Police, Courts and Corrections. 4.1 After reading the lecture and listening to Dr. Wxxxxxxx's description, do you believe the criminal justice system is a true integrated system or simply an unrelated series of steps in a process?

After reading the assigned lecture, and listening to the assigned video, I do not believe the described criminal justice system is a true system. Upon my review, I lean towards the other option in topic being that this described system is an unrelated series of ideals.

The “Police, Courts, and Corrections,” are not cohesive because:
- The structure of these organizations are not designed to be. The structured culture here is solving cases, not solving crime. In solving cases, solving the case is the intent, not obtaining or administering justice. Solving cases means that someone is blamed and locked away. Obtaining or administering justice means that everyone gets what they deserved based off the intent of their actions. Solving crime is like solving problems, where the end result equals justice.
- Heavily reminds me of the movies Gang-Related, Beetlejuice, and Gridlock’d. In Gang-Related, emphasis is only solving the case, which meant that people needed to see someone go down for the crime – and that someone meant anyone. The topic of corruption is introduced here, because the supposed administrators and enforcers of justice will themselves commit crimes to pin the case on someone, done by snitching, lying, blackmail, bribing, etc. Instead of focusing their energy on finding the real perp and the reasons behind the actions that caused the case, the focus is on again pinning it on someone – many times because the supposed administrators are involved being the cause of the crime at all. In Beetlejuice and Gridlock’d, there are scenes in the different stories where there is prolonged or continuous waiting for assistance or solutions, to where the illusion of the arrival of solutions is casted by forever waiting.
- “Where the offender is not caught ‘red-handed’, they solve crime by investigating the circumstances, interviewing witnesses, examining exhibits and identifying suspects. ‘Sting’ and similar operations apart, the police rarely ‘stumble on crimes’. It has been estimated, e.g. that on average an officer will do so only once or twice in his or her entire career. Rather, they try to prevent crime and follow-up crimes reported by the public. Much detective work involves painstaking routine matters, chasing leads searching records.” (Gibson, B., 2014, pg. 80).
- The Wxxxxxxx video begins with admitting to problems (0:01-0:12), then within seconds says that they have indeed achieved the pinnacle of their ability for fairness (0:13-0:029), and to end the video with thinking and hoping for change.
- The Wxxxxxxx video also admits to not having more trials resulting in people’s concerns of proper guilt and justice not being assigned (1:00-1:19). This illustrates the stopping point being at one sector, and not utilizing all sectors in a cohesive process as in an integrated system. If there is evidence to prove guilt, then plea bargaining should not be the focus, the focus should be completion of proving guilt, and not only proving guilt, but in administering justice.
  - Bargain is, “a thing bought or offered for sale more cheaply than usual or expected.” (New Oxford American Dictionary, 2023)
  - Negotiating the terms and conditions of punishment is not assigning appropriate punishment - in making dealings, it is actually offering a seat at a business table.
  - Corruption is, "dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery." (New Oxford American Dictionary, 2023)
  - Bribe means, "persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or some other inducement." (New Oxford American Dictionary, 2023)
- The show ‘lucifer’ also comes to mind where illustrated is two cases of false confessions. This so-called devil is known for making deals. However, in the episode is the LAPD whom used plea bargaining to jail the wrong people while the committers walked free for decades (Kao, J., 2016).
An example of a true integrated system is of Ma’at in Ancient Egypt.
- “Ma’at is the ancient Egyptian Goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance, who first appears during the period known as the Old Kingdom… but no doubt existed in some form earlier.” (Mark, J., 2016).
- In Ancient Egypt, Ma’at is symbolized in many ways, but specifically by balanced scales. By contrast, the “United States” criminal justice system is symbolized by a blindfolded woman holding a scale that is imbalanced. Case rested by crime-solved.

- AALiYah

References

Gibson, Bryan. (2014). Criminal Justice : A Beginner’s Guide. Waterside Press.

Kao, J. (Writer), & Wayr, T. (Director). (2016, November 7). Chapter 1 (Season 2, Episode 7) “My Little Monkey”. Fox.

Mark, Joshua, J. (2016, September 15). World History Encyclopedia. World History Publishing.https://www.worldhistory.org/Ma'at/

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Bargain. Apple Inc.

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Bribe. Apple Inc.

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Corrupt. Apple Inc.

Ma'at - World History Encyclopedia

https://www.worldhistory.org/Ma'at

Ma'at (pronounced may-et) is the ancient Egyptian goddess of truth, justice, harmony, and balance (a concept known as ma'at in Egyptian) who first appears during the period known as the Old Kingdom (c. 2613 - 2181 BCE) but no doubt existed in some form earlier.

Response 1

Hi! This post takes the position that this criminal justice system is more of a network. The mental image I receive from that, is that of a wireless network in someone’s home that connects them to the internet. The internet being the system, each personal place of residence as well as each business establishment has its own wireless network device that allows access to the internet. With this example, completely unrelated entities intersect only at the point of connectivity of being online. As further example, in online gaming, gamers from all over the world – in different countries and time zones – connect to play individualized independent games, randomly team up to play multi-player games, purposely team up with their buddies to play multi-player games, or choose either individual or teamed games where they purposely oppose each other. With the many games available to connect and stream, each of their wireless or wired network allow them access to online connectivity. Is a network, an integrated system?

This post mentions a drug diversion program where rehabilitation is offered under the threat of prosecution. Rehabilitation is defined as, “the action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness; the action of restoring someone to former privileges or reputation after a period of disfavor; the action of restoring something that has been damaged to its former condition.” (New Oxford American Dictionary, 2023). Do you believe that threats or force can successfully rehabilitate? Do health professionals use threats or force to successfully heal their patients? The Wxxxxxxx video speaks on the perspective of criminology and criminologists – criminology uses sociology, psychology, and/or other non-legal fields to study crime and criminal behavior – do you think threats or force is used by criminologists in rehabilitative efforts?

References

New Oxford American Dictionary Version 230 (294) (2023). Rehabilitation. Apple Inc.

Response 2

Hi! This post takes the position that this criminal justice system should be viewed as an integrated system. Should implies that it may not be, do you believe that it is? Viewed implies appearance and face-card, are view and actual the same? Also mentioned in this post is trust between law enforcement and civilians. What examples come to mind of trust-building exercises implemented? Is trust built on truth?

An organization utilizing systems thinking can have a design structure of a team-oriented culture. In team efforts, there is still individualized tasks that are handed off to another division/department/teammate. If the structured culture is collaborative, it can still function as a team. As I continue reading these discussion posts, I see some believe that it is integrated, and some like myself but for diverse reasons answer the topical question that it is not believed to be an integrated system. If it is evidently integrated, should it not hit everyone the same way? What elements cause the different beliefs? Most reasons state that it is not integrated due to each division operating independently, but, how does independent operation give the effect that it is not team-oriented as in cohesive?

Response 3

Hi! This post takes the position that this criminal justice system tends to be more separated than integrated, and, that if each can work cohesively then it can be effective by overcoming its barriers. With said barriers, what changes do you think can be made in the structural design that can encourage overcoming these types of challenges?

An element mentioned in this post that I have not seen yet in other posts is that of checks and balances, and, also that of a perfect system. Balance is emphasized in my initial post with an example of a perfect system. The perfect system I refer to is that of Ancient Egypt. What correlation is there to time, ancient world, modern world, complete systems, and continuously seeking improvement to an incomplete system? How long does it take for solution-focused professionals to implement solutions?

This post states the Wxxxxxxx video’s point of corrections being the weakest of the system is a strong point, and, mentions tools for positive rehabilitation. What tools do you believe would encourage positive rehabilitation. What practices do you believe is considered to be the negative rehabilitation that encourages repeat offenders?"

Yah's Judgment:

"I ain't got opps, I got all fans." x King Von

Fans can't spell. Fans got speech impediments.

Yah's notes