Overview

Trying to understand how the various components of the U.S. Criminal Justice System work together or sometimes don’t work at all in delivering a fair, equitable, and impartial judicial system is much like trying to assemble an enormous jigsaw puzzle. Hopefully, the many different pieces will come together to form a complete picture; however, finding where and how each piece “fits” into the “big picture” can be tedious, time-consuming, and challenging. The various chapters of this book offer definitions and explanations as to how the many components of the U.S. Criminal Justice System (law enforcement, courts, corrections, law) “fit together.”

Chapter 5 explores one of the common, or overarching, aspects of the plethora of “pieces” in the U.S. Criminal Justice System—the law. Various “bodies of law” exist; however, not every body of law affects or is part of the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Chapter 3 focuses explicitly on constitutional law and criminal law—the two bodies of law most relevant to the U.S. Criminal Justice System. This chapter offers insight into how constitutional law serves as the “framework” for the entire U.S. Criminal Justice System to balance individuals’ rights against the government’s duties and responsibilities. The chapter also addresses how criminal law is created and enforced in an effort to define criminal offenses, set boundaries for societal behavior, prevent harm, protect property, and maintain public order.

Next, Chapter 3 addresses recent trends in constitutional and criminal law and offers some insight into the ever-changing dynamics of constitutional and criminal law. Chapter 3 concludes by identifying potential law-related employment positions, explaining the requirements for obtaining these positions, and addressing the protocols and processes involved in pursuing these positions.