Expected Changes in Criminal Justice - Essay Example

Introduction
This paper outlines three of the changes expected in criminal justice in the next fifty years.

The Co-evolution of Crime and Justice
Like any other system or discipline, criminal justice is expected to evolve. This evolution will be apparent in both crime and justice. In fact, as criminals evolve; their potential victims will also evolve in the preventive strategies they will use against the perpetrators. For instance, criminals are expected to use devices that would counter or unlock the more advanced devices and technologies such as alarm systems and locks that potential victims are expected to use to protect themselves (Ritter, 2006). As is currently the case, crime-fighting strategies will however continue to focus on the reduction of crime opportunities, removing criminal motivators, and altering peoples’ basic values by nurturing positive values, more so in the youth so that their propensity to commit crimes is reduced (Ritter, 2006). Population experts believe that in the next three to five decades there is a likely increase in the percentage of the over-30 population, particularly those over 65 years of age. The implication of these demographic changes on criminal justice is that more people will be highly likely to become victims and criminals.

Increased Use of Technologies
The other change expected in the next fifty years in criminal justice is the increased use of technological advances in fighting crimes. In this regard, there is an expected increase in the development and use of more sophisticated biometric devices, surveillance equipment, identification microchips, and DNA analysis in preventing, detecting, and reducing crime (Ritter, 2006). These technological devices will be quite effective in enhancing crime prevention and crime-solving in the future. Technologically, more complex and effective intelligence databases for policing and analysis of crime trends by experts and the public will be exploited in fighting crimes. Technologies will also be used extensively to connect the operations of not only national crime agencies but also support the interoperability of international criminal justice systems for the purposes of sharing information about criminals and crime patterns (Ritter, 2006). As a result of the increased interoperability of the world criminal justice system, there is an expected improved connection among local communities, national crime-fighting agencies, and the international community, the vulnerability and attractiveness of crime-prone people and assets are expected to drop from the current rates.

Influence of Global Trends
Changes are also expected in criminal justice with regard to the influence of global trends in crime and crime-fighting. For instance, global trends are expected to influence how nations’ justice systems will deliver justice. Accordingly, the expected increase in multiculturalism and diversity in national populations will impact the delivery and numerous implications for criminal justice systems the world over. That is, even countries that hitherto had no knowledge of other cultures will have to contend with these new cultures among their people. This foreseen diversity growth in many nations will no doubt result in disharmony (Stojkovic et al., 2011). An example of these disharmonies is in fact evident in current times in the form of the many languages that require translators in court cases as judges, lawyers, complainants, and defendants speak different languages. Diverse people and cultures will also result in different societal norms and expectations since immigrants might have different criminal justice experiences with regards to lawyers’, prosecutors’, and judges’ roles and responsibilities (Stojkovic et al., 2011).

Concussion
Technological advances, changes in the global trends,s, and co-evolution of crime and justice are among the major expected changes in criminal justice in the next five decades. Although in current times, criminal justice systems use technological advances and are influenced by global trends elsewhere, the use of technology in preventing and fighting crime is expected to increase as crime and justice co-evolve and criminals resort to using technologies to commit crimes.