Crime and Justice

Current Problems Criminal Justice Administration

Introduction

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In past decades the United States has declared war on crime and in the late 1980's and 1990's we declared war on drugs. I suspect that we have lost or are at best are losing the so called war on drugs. However, we know that serious crime is declining. Reported crime is declining, and our prisons continue to be crowded. We currently imprison more people in our prisons per 100,000 than any country in the world.

The criminal justice system in the U.S. is fragmented. Fragmentation means that there is a lack of coordination and central control of the criminal justice system. As a country we have chosen this approach to the administration of our justice system for many reasons, most probably due to a fear of too strong central government. We continue to have local control of the justice system and elect many of the officials in the justice system. There are more than twelve thousand law enforcement agencies in this country, with overlapping jurisdiction on the local, county, state and federal levels. In most jurisdictions the sheriff, district attorney, and other officials are elected to office. In some states' judges are also elected to office. This means that politics are deeply involved in the criminal justice system. Some believe that the criminal justice system is in a crisis. This course explores the justice system and takes a look at some important areas that are currently of concern.

The justice system faces numerous challenges, some of these are:

• Citizen expectations of the justice system are unrealistic.
  
  
• Some citizen groups are over-served while others are under served.
  
  
• We have a disproportionate percentage of people of color involved in the justice system.
  
  
• We have declared a war on drugs and by many measurements we are losing this war.
  
  
• The agencies and individuals involved in the delivery of criminal justice services have different "masters," different goals, and at times fail to work together to provide the best possible services.
  
  
• Some citizens believe that the justice system does not serve victims of crime and the community well.

This course explores the inner workings of the justice system, reviews ways of looking at system issues, and at topics of concern that are current in the justice system. The topics include:

• Community involvement in the justice system.
  
  
• Minority over-representation in the justice system.
  
  
• Victims of crime.
  
  
• Personnel issues in the justice with a focus on police.
  
  
• The war on drugs.

The course requirements include: writing papers, participation in the forum, a midterm and a final. The readings for the course are on the web sites or in the electronic (web-based) part of the Auraria Library.

To succeed in this course you need to do the readings and complete the written assignments. I look forward to working with you.

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