StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States" presents the criminal law that refers to a branch of law concerned with crimes and provides the punishment imposed on offenders who are found guilty and convicted of a particular offense…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.9% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States"

The United States Criminal Law The criminal law refers to a branch of law concerned with crimes and provides the punishment imposed on offenders who are found guilty and convicted of a particular offense. Criminal law concerns actions which are dangerous or harmful to the society as a whole, in which prosecution is perused not by an individual but rather by the state (Jones & Johnstone, 2011). Criminal law initially developed from the code of Hammurabi and then evolved to Lex Talionis, Draco's law to Magna Carta law of England. Thought the dark and middle ages, laws were created or abolished according to the whim of the ruling nobility. The rules were established by philosophers or religion. Hammurabi code originated from ancient Mesopotamia where king Hammurabi of Babylon gave out the Hammurabi code containing principles that those who are strong should not injure those weak people. The Hammurabi code also had some doctrine that if someone brings an accusation of alleged crime and fails to the allegations, then the complainant shall be put to death if the charge involved was capital (Roth, 2010). From Hammurabi code, came Lex Talionis which was a theory of similar injury inflicted for injury suffered that is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. From ancient Greece, then came Draco’s law which was a harsh legal code punishing petty and severe crimes with a death sentence. Draco’s law replaced by Plato’s doctrine which proposed the offenders to make restitution to the victim and undergo rehabilitation. Justinian code then replaces Plato's law which was the most significant roman contribution to civilization known as corpus juris civilis, meaning a body of civil law which contained early Roman law, legal principles cases and explanation of new rules. From the Justinian code, the English common law developed. Many Commonwealth countries adopted the English common law which creates a court system and develops common law which is a body of rulings made by judges from common customs and previous court decisions. In English common law, if a judge had ruled in an earlier similar case, the judges from the ruling establishes a precedent which is followed later in cases of same nature. Besides the English law, there is also a constitutional milestone such as Magna Carta which includes common laws and statutes passed by senate, congress or parliament, constitutional law and administrative law. Magna Carta helped develop a constitutional government as well as due process of the law and trial by the jury. Magna Carta placed the government under the law controlled state power (Roth, 2010). Traditionally, American policing was seen by the public as an inefficient, corrupt and brutal force. However, traditional policing laid a necessary foundation for helping the American citizens by protecting lives and property. Despite the police role of enforcing criminal law, they must also work closely with citizens to identify concerns and implement the solutions on how to counter the challenges. Community policing is thus necessary to provide guidance on police behavior and police actions and put these police actions to check. It is important for police and community to develop a better understanding to foster better interaction in securing the neighborhoods (Baker, 2011). The United States criminal law is continuously evolving to reflect economic and social conditions. However, the United States at times finds itself in a dilemma between keeping people safe and protecting the liberty of its citizens. At times police breach the law to trap individuals who would otherwise escape beyond police reach. Prosecutors also at times wilfully withhold exculpatory information which can bear dangerous suspect guilty. Judges, magistrates, and jury at times consider valid evidence obtained through setting up a situation that invites a commission of a crime and then using the ensuing criminal conduct as a ground for arresting individuals who fall into the trap. The actions of the police, prosecutors, juries and judges are done to protect the American citizens however at times they violate individual’s rights to liberties (Neubauer & Fradella, 2018). The United States laws change due to a different culture and social conventions which shifts, reflecting a current tolerance for behavior, previously sanctioned. The changes in United States technology is the primary force behind the creation of United States criminal laws. Technology continues to increase global and local roles in the lives of U.S citizens. America’s legal system directly descends from British common law entailing the interactionist, conflict and consensus perspectives (Siegel, 2018). Consensus views that most citizens share common ideas and work focused on a common good that criminal acts outlaws since they are harmful to the society and conflict with majority rule, and that laws which apply to all the citizens equally also define what is wrong and right. The conflict perspective, views the law as a tool controlled by the upper and the wealthy social class, who determines what is right and wrong and use this determination to control other classes. The interactionist views the criminal law as a reflection of people’s values that use social and political powers to shape the legal system. Moral entrepreneurs define what is wrong and right; however, crime is subjective and reflective of modern values and morals hence criminals are described as a life-transforming event (Siegel, 2018). The United States criminal was is also shaped by various goals including deterring people from engaging into criminal acts, prohibiting harmful behavior, maintaining law and order, punishing offenders, and eliminating the need for personal revenge (Siegel, 2018). Despite putting establishing mechanisms such as restitution, rehabilitation, fines, community service order, probation, and parole to offenders found guilty of engaging in crime, the U.S criminal law has further undermined the black family, making it harder for the blacks to access jobs and education. Most Americas laws are repressive and reduce black men’s chances of earning a decent living, as well as being successfully socialized into pro-social values. Most sentencing projects indicate that a large number of black Americans convicted of crime felonies are denied voting rights, hampering the black community’s ability to effectively and efficiently participate in a political and democratic process (Reiman & Leighton, 2015). America's criminal law system is marred with overcrowded prisons, few criminal justice staff, undermanned and underfinanced justice departments, and lack of technical resources. Public support improves America's criminal law, where the community helps the criminal justice in dealing with potential offenders through guiding and counseling, offering jobs to likely offenders and maintaining them (Smith, 2007). The U.S criminal law encounters the challenge of the ineffectiveness of crime control Americas big cities. Managing big towns demands a top-notch law enforcement administrator who blends a combination of advanced training, managerial expertise, and better education, a leader who can put the criminal justice system to proper effect (O'Brien & Marcus, 2016). Reference Baker, T. E. (2011). Effective police leadership: Moving beyond management. Looseleaf Law Publications. Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2018). America's courts and the criminal justice system. Cengage Learning. O'Brien, J. T., & Marcus, M. (2016). Crime and Justice in America: Critical Issues for the Future. Elsevier. Reiman, J., & Leighton, P. (2015). The rich get richer and the poor get prison: Ideology, class, and criminal justice. Routledge. Roth, M. (2010). Crime and punishment: A history of the criminal justice system. Nelson Education. Siegel, L. J. (2018). Criminology: the core. Cengage Learning. Smith, L. J. (2007). Coordinating the criminal justice system: A guide to improve the effective administration of justice. University Press of America. Jones, M., & Johnstone, P. (2011). History of criminal justice. Routledge. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States Essay, n.d.)
The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States Essay. https://studentshare.org/law/1891610-the-united-states-criminal-law
(The Criminal Law As a Branch of Law in the United States Essay)
The Criminal Law As a Branch of Law in the United States Essay. https://studentshare.org/law/1891610-the-united-states-criminal-law.
“The Criminal Law As a Branch of Law in the United States Essay”. https://studentshare.org/law/1891610-the-united-states-criminal-law.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Criminal Law as a branch of Law in the United States

Federal Constitution in US

Could a country such as the united states function without a federal constitution?... When the united states of America wrote and ratified its written constitution that was clearly without precedent.... Why shouldn't the Constitution include an overall criminal code specifying crimes and punishments that could apply throughout the united states?... hellip; Having a written constitution implies maintaining rule of law since rights and powers are stipulated and spelled out with some degree of specificity....
3 Pages (750 words) Coursework

Views on the U.S. Constitution

hellip; As a document that was ratified in 1787, only a few years after the united states won its independence from England, it is expected that the Constitution would no longer be able to deal well with the current challenges that the government and the people are facing.... The fourth is about the states and their rights as well.... It is clear that the states have been granted with too many rights that it would seem that the federal government would not be able to perform its responsibilities the well (Kommers & Finn 39)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Judicial Review Is a Power of the Supreme Court

As such, an indictment states that “the grand jury charges” while an information begins with, "the united states of America, acting through its attorneys, charges".... Undoubtedly, the legislature and executive departments so have the expertise to interpret laws and the constitution, but both have vested interests and citizens do not stand a chance against the creator and the enforcer of the law.... Both are required to state with clarity the acts and circumstances that constitute the offense as defined by law....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

Weekly Reflection

The rights of the suspected criminal are guaranteed by the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments of the constitution of the united states (Miller, 2011).... According to various scholars, these regulations are designed in order to ensure justice in the courts of law (Miller, 2011).... n the other hand, civil law is recognized as the branch of common law which deals with the relations between institutions and individuals.... Substantive law also refers to all… This includes criminal law, tort law and the law of contracts....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Public Health and the Law

This, to a certain extent, is because Federal laws cut across states and can be pursued from any court of law in the united states of America.... In addition traffic laws are a branch of public laws whose concern is to ensure public road safety.... The laws cover licensing of vehicles and drivers, inspection and… The Federal and local states prohibit driving when under the influence of alcohol or any other drug that may influence the driver's Public Health and the Law: Road Safety Road safety is one of the areas that need concerted efforts of both the federal and local authority....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

Principles and Articles of the United States

Among the three branches of the government, none of Principles of the Constitution Principles and articles of the united s Self government Separation of powers Checks and balances The principle of self-government is the pillar of democracy.... When people talk about checks and balances in government, it is significant to understand the composition of the three branches of government that can act or amend another branch of the government to prevent it from possessing too much authority over the other branches (Hollitz, 2010)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

One law about america

The House of Representatives is thought to be the younger branch of the Congress.... The seats in it are divided according to the population of the states.... To pass a law, a representative must initiate a bill that is to be… Afterwards the President signs it.... The Congress represents the latter and is comprised of House of Representatives and Senate (“The Legislative branch”, n.... In this paper the legislative branch, the lawmaking and Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 will be analyzed. Two legislative bodies are referred to as Congress....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Criminal Justice System of the United States

This assignment "Criminal Justice System of the united states" presents the Defense Attorneys that have the right to counsel that is extended to the first appeal, juvenile proceedings, and probation and parole hearings....                In the criminal justice system of the united states, a Courtroom Workgroup is a sort of informal arrangement between judicial officer, prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us