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Exploring the UK's Criminal Justice System (CJS), this overview examines its key components: the police, CPS, judiciary, and correctional services. It delves into the roles of these agencies in maintaining public order, delivering justice, and the sociological perspectives that critique their function in society. Issues such as systemic biases, the relationship between the police and communities, and the objectives of correctional institutions are also discussed.
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The CJS is a complex system of legal and government institutions responsible for maintaining public order and delivering justice
Functionalist and subcultural theories
Functionalist and subcultural theories view the CJS as upholding social order by targeting crimes that threaten societal values, often focusing on working-class and male offenders
Social action and Marxist theories
Social action theorists critique the CJS for labeling and reinforcing stereotypes, while Marxist theorists argue that it disproportionately targets the lower classes and minimizes white-collar and state crimes
The CJS includes the police, CPS, judiciary, and correctional services such as prisons and probation
The police are responsible for law enforcement, crime investigation, and evidence collection
The CPS evaluates evidence and prosecutes criminal cases
The judiciary, including Magistrates' and Crown Courts, adjudicates cases at appropriate levels of severity and complexity
Correctional services aim to protect the public, punish and rehabilitate offenders, and promote successful reintegration into society
Surveillance society and mass incarceration
The CJS has been criticized for contributing to a 'surveillance society' and perpetuating mass incarceration
Expansion of social control mechanisms
Some argue that the CJS has led to an expansion of social control mechanisms
Institutional racism and gender bias
The CJS has faced allegations of institutional racism and gender bias, with reports highlighting discriminatory practices and debates surrounding the treatment of female offenders
Reflection of broader societal dynamics
The treatment of certain groups within the CJS reflects broader societal dynamics of power and discrimination
A thorough understanding of the CJS, including its structure, functions, and critiques, is crucial for a nuanced view of its role and implications within society
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The Criminal Justice System is designed to uphold public order and ensure ______, but it may also face challenges like ______ and ______.
justice
biases
inefficiencies
01
Functionalist Perspective on CJS
Views CJS as a means to uphold social order by penalizing actions that violate societal values, often targeting working-class and male offenders.
02
Subcultural Theories on CJS
Suggest CJS focuses on crimes threatening societal values within specific groups, highlighting the influence of subcultures in shaping criminal behavior.
