Description should include the
- elements of the American criminal justice system
- primary purpose of each element
- primary relationship among law enforcement, corrections, and the courts
- purpose of the courts (i.e., to interpret the law and to apply it to cases)
- goals of law enforcement (i.e., to control and to prevent crime)
- roles of corrections (i.e., custody, control, supervision, and security vs. rehabilitation).
Process/Skill Questions:
- Why is an understanding of the elements of the criminal justice system a fundamental part of a course of study?
- Why are the goals of law enforcement always the same?
- Why do the goals of each element of the criminal justice system sometimes conflict?