How Does a Criminal Move Through the System?

(San Diego County District Attorney http://www.sdcda.org/office/criminal-justice-system.html)

Structure of the Criminal Justice System

In the United States our system for criminal justice is comprised of three basic parts: law enforcement, the court (judiciary) system, and the correctional system. Each of these systems play a crucial role.

Law enforcement is often the first point of contact for an offender’s entry into the system. Police officers on the local, state and federal level are the eyes and ears of the system. They make the arrest, gather evidence, conduct investigations and relay pertinent information to the prosecuting attorneys.

The court system in the United States follows the adversarial model. In this model both sides of the table are allowed to present their own version of the events for the judge and jury. However, one can only be declared guilty or not guilty based on the evidence and testimony provided. A defendant will not be declared innocent by the courts. The main players in this section are the judge, the prosecutor, and the defense attorney.

The correctional system is the end of the line for those convicted in the courts. This system is compromised of correctional officers, correctional facility personnel, and parole officers. Prisons are where the convicted are housed; jail is where the accused are housed. Probation, house arrest and capital punishment are also related to the correctional system.