Definition Essay

Criminal Justice is a very important and exciting field of study. Criminal Justice is “the system of law enforcement, the bar, the judiciary, corrections, and probation that is directly involved in the apprehension, prosecution, defense, sentencing, incarceration, and supervision of those suspected of or charged with criminal offenses.” (Answer.com). Criminal Justice is very important in maintaining a just and fair society. Criminal Justice comes into play in society on a daily basis. Police, judges, lawyers and jails all play a very large roll in law processes. It is very important to have these institutions in order to keep society in line.

The word justice, formally meaning the quality of being just, impartial, and fair (Merriam-Webster.com) is always the true goal. “All involved in the arrest, prosecution, defense or judgment of a suspect aim to be fair. However, this goal is not always met, accounting for the flexibility in the application of laws, the changes to laws that are unfair, and the judiciary power of interpretation.”(Wisegeek.com) Criminal justice goes as far back as the Supreme Court, where laws pertaining to districts and cities are created.

Many people in society take criminal justice for granted. They do not truly know how much their daily lives are affected and outlined by some form of criminal justice.

Receiving a degree in criminal justice can vary depending on the field one pursues. For example, becoming a police officer can take years of schooling and training. “training such as an Associates or Bachelors degree is recommended. A number of colleges offer criminal justice programs for individuals interested in becoming a police officer. Most of these programs involve education in human behavior, legal issues, computer systems, and a variety of other subjects which assist law enforcement officers. The more advanced your training, the more successful your application as a police officer will be.” (Wisegeek.com) Police is only one form of criminal justice, other forms such as becoming a lawyer can take years of law school and testing.

Criminal continues to serve are cities by providing safe and controlled streets as well as fair and balanced court systems. Don’t get me wrong, “criminal justice is not always just. There are great cops and terrible ones, judges who are too strict, and those who are too lenient. There are also very skilled and exceptional lawyers, and very poorly organized lawyers.” (Wisegeek.com) There is always room for improvement in this field. Very many people continue to work toward the goal of true criminal justice while continuing to display fairness in this field.

Reference List:

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Merriam-Websters.com “justice”

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justice

Cjed.com “Criminal Justice Education”

http://www.cjed.com/

Answers.com “criminal justice”

http://www.answers.com/topic/criminal-justice

Wisegeek.com “What is criminal justice?”

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-criminal-justice.htm

Wisegeek.com “How do I become a police officer?”

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-police-officer.htm