Criminal Justice: Just Treatment and Punishment for one's Conduct

Criminal Justice: Just treatment and punishment for one’s conduct

The United States of America and the world forever changed with the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, American citizens and citizens of other nations called for justice. The country, which represented the panicle of power, wealth, and might, was attacked and unable to fight off the attack. The individuals responsible believed that since the United States was not able to stop the attacks or strike back militarily, it would not be able to seek justice. The enemy was not another superpower; it was not even another country, but a stealthy and determined terror organization, which waited patiently to strike. The United States regular military designed to fight other countries militaries, not terrorist organizations, is limited in protecting the United States from this determined enemy. The United States law enforcement agencies took the fight to ensure justice; through discretion, treatment and punishment according to one’s conduct would be administered. This paper will identify how the United States law enforcement agencies are pursuing criminal justice.

Since attending the University of Phoenix, perception of the justice system, the roles in the justice system, the operation of the justice system, and what justice is has come to more of a understanding of the real world application of what is justice is. Expectations of the criminal justice system were limited due to limited contact, the media, and opinion based on novice knowledge of how our criminal justice system operates. The United States criminal justice system has many limitations that require the use of discretion. The limitations are caused by an over-burdened court system, over-populated prison system, and limited fiscal resources. No justice system, not even the United States justice system can satisfy everyone’s expectations of justice. With justice though, it begins with our law enforcement. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies use discretion in their daily duties. Though discretion may be used, law enforcement must ensure proper treatment and punishment for one’s actions.

America is freedom and justice of all individuals as outlined in the Constitution and its Amendments. America has fought enemies for its survival, it has fought itself for survival, and it has fought other nations when allies were threatened and fighting for their survival. America became the champion of freedom and the right to live with individuals determining their own future, and it has become the champion of justice. In becoming this champion of righteousness, America has had its share of black eyes due to its over-confidence. America had become so confident in power, might, and wealth and it became blind to threats, which could inflict serious harm to it and its citizens. America ignored Al-Qaeda because it did not consider the possibility that the country was vulnerable to the threat. Al-Qaeda’s attack on United States soil meant to show the world that the greatest superpower in the history of civilization is vulnerable to attack and to destroy the world’s confidence in the protection provided by the United States as the world’s champion of freedom and justice. American law enforcement agencies are not the frontline combat troops in post September 11, 2001.

Prior to the attacks on September 11, 2001, COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) was in existent, however, was limited in practice to more traditional policing. With the terrorist attacks, the nation’s law enforcement leadership and agencies modified policies and procedures towards combating terrorism. COPS provided the exact platform the nation’s law enforcement agencies needed to tackle this new and daunting task. Never before has law enforcement agencies been tasked to act as intelligence gathering instruments, by working with citizens in their jurisdiction, law enforcement officers are able to provide the protection the United States was lacking prior to the terror attacks. The United States has the military capability to target and destroy terrorists on foreign shores; this force due to federal law cannot be administered on American shores. Instead, law enforcement agencies with the assistance citizens focus on crime, social disorder, and combating possible terrorism through prevention, problem solving, community engagements, and partnership. The most effective tool for human intelligence is citizens in the community. Citizens are more aware of individuals or events in their neighborhood and are able to provide more intelligence to law enforcement than law enforcement agents are capable of providing (COPS).

Post September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States government set out to enhance its counterterrorism and interagency collaboration and established the Department