Pursing Criminal Justice

Essay by spazosburnUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, January 2010

download word file, 7 pages 5.0

There are many components that make up the criminal justice system, including but not limited to: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. The criminal justice system, often referred to as a network as opposed to a system by criminal justice professionals, can not be successful without all the components that make up that system or network. Nothing can move forward within the criminal court system without first being referred by a law enforcement agency. The intent of this paper is to focus on the law enforcement component of the criminal justice system. The paper will address the three current practices of law enforcement that demonstrate the successful achievement of justice. In addition, the paper will address three examples of changes that law enforcement has undergone as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Further, the paper will address the three biggest challenges, in the next ten years for law enforcement.

Throughout my learning in the previous 18 criminal justice administration (CJA) classes that I have attended at the University of Phoenix it has contributed to my definition of justice as it relates to law enforcement. That definition is: includes the prevention, investigation and enforcement of criminally defined activities as stated by local, state and federal governments. The CJA 333 class, Policing Theory and Practice, at the university has largely influenced my understanding of the law enforcement component of the criminal justice system. Police, however, was not the only law enforcement agency covered within the CJA 333 class. Currently, I am in a business management career in retail operations. If at some point I decide to pursue any career within criminal justice it would be in practicing law and to work with law enforcement in that aspect of a career in criminal justice.

Current PracticesWithin the law enforcement component...