Components of the Criminal Justice System

CJA 204

The American Criminal Justice system has many components. A major component is crime, naturally. Without crime, there would be no need for a criminal justice system. Crime can be defined as, "a violation of a law in which there is injury to the public or a member of the public and a term in jail or prison, and/or a fine as possible penalties" (Farlex, 2011). After a crime is committed, the victim and perpetrator will likely become very familiar with the next component of the criminal justice system, law enforcement.

Law enforcement has many different levels in America. There are federal, state and local police agencies, all with the same goal of stopping crime, arresting suspects, and completing...