Organizations in the US Related to Justice and Their Duties - Term Paper Example

Criminal justice Criminal justice is a broad field that has various tasks and responsibilities depending on the level of an individual. Otherwise, it identifies itself with many characteristics in regards to duties and responsibilities. They have a common objective of ensuring that justice prevails in the society. Members range from simple individuals without much academic qualification to professionals. The professionals have a variety of career options to choose. Criminal justice system functions to impose penalties and control crime. It ensures that people enjoy maximum justice as intended in the law (Ferdico, Fradella, & Totten, 2013). Systems vary from one country to another is depends on the type of jurisdiction that a country values. Careers in criminal justice can be classified in terms of categories. The categories include courts, prosecution, corrections, law-enforcements, and defense attorneys. Each category of criminal justice plays a specific role. For instance, the police are law-enforcers and ensure that there is enough law and order. The system of criminal justice has logical sequence of how it handles cases. The units are interrelated and depend on one another. For example, the police does the function of law-enforcement and arrests a suspected criminal (Harr, & Hess, 2010). The court justifies whether an individual should be proved guilty or not. Careers in criminal justice are one of the fastest growing in the US. The whole nation has a focus on ensuring proper immigration, law enforcement, security and public safety. The sections highlighted are in high demand for professionals in the field of criminal justice. Research projects that demand for the police and detectives shall increase by 10% by 2018. There are many professional programs in criminals justice that colleges and universities. There are also online education that aims at providing education at the convenience of individuals. There are several international and national organizations concerned with issues regaining criminal justice. American center of criminology is an international organization that deals with criminal issues. A second organization is the American Correctional Association which is concerned with nurturing professionals towards providing efficient services to the society. It provides services to a wide range of specializations relating to criminology. American Jail Association is another organization that performs the same function of supporting justice in the society (Ferdico, Fradella, & Totten, 2013). Other related organizations in the US include American probation and parole association, American academy of forensic science, and International association for identification. There are general duties and responsibilities of individuals in the field of criminal justice. First, is overseeing safety. It involves responding emergencies, maintaining order, enforcing law, and protecting property. The professionals do the work of fact-gathering and documentation. The function involves preparation of reports about incidences relating criminal justice. They need to observe incidences and record reports that would be used in further stages of getting solutions. The function is also concerned with arresting criminal suspects who they present for trial (Harr, & Hess, 2010). Criminal justice professionals provide testimony to testify for what they have reported. In that regards, they act us witnesses against suspects. They take care of those found guilty. Inmates have to be handled using the appropriate skills. Careers in criminology justice are very distinct. An individual has a wide range of options to choose. Detectives and investigators have the responsibility of obtaining information relating to legal, financial, personal, and among other matters. This category can either be public or private. There are police officers who are concerned with gathering information about criminal incidences that have occurred. In order to be a police in the United States, an individual has to meet certain qualifications. First, they must have graduated from any agency’s training academy (Pollock, 2012). The minimum age requirement is 21 years. In addition, a candidate has to meet physical and personal qualifications. The profession is sometimes dangerous because the people are usually undergo environments that are demanding and stressful. Paralegals are another class of criminal justice professionals. They work hand in hand with lawyers to undertake legal duties. Their areas of specialization in the legal system is determined by the duties and responsibilities as well as the employer. There are no strict education requirements for these area except basic professional education. Another class of careers is probation officers who are individuals involved in people who have been sentenced to probation. They file reports of criminals in probation to be used in further judgments of criminals (Ferdico, Fradella, & Totten, 2013). For individuals to qualify to be probation officers, they must have bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or any related field. Getting promotion requires one to advance in education. An individual must be at least 21 apart from not having a felony on record. It had been mentioned earlier that professionals in the field of criminal justice have to attain certain qualifications in order to hold the positions. Qualifications range from simple certificate programs to bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice or any related field. The people also have to have records of good conduct. Some of them such as the police have to further go for special training at their agencies. Another general qualification is that a person must be at least 21 years old (Harr, & Hess, 2010). Hiring process is done through interviews to find the most qualified individuals for the jobs. They go through a vigorous hiring process. In addition, persons have to be physically fit as situations in the field can at times demand. Physical checkups such as height, weight, and among other aspects are taken into consideration. There is a simple model for comparing salaries of individuals in the field of criminal justice for bachelor degree holders. Police officers $48,532, probation officer, $7,430, paralegal, $40,909, director, $78,274, detective, $57520, and correction officer, 35,371. Like any other job, promotion takes place based on level of education as well as years of experience (Ferdico, Fradella, & Totten, 2013). Working conditions depend on the type of the job. Police officers among other careers in the field can work in shift because security needs to be provided throughout the day and night. I have had a profound interest in giving my services in the field of criminal justice. I decided to join the field because it gives job satisfaction when serving the community. Job satisfaction is very important in every life of an individual. People only tend to do best in careers that give them the best satisfaction. Pursuing a program in criminal justice has been my passion for a long time. I have always wanted practice in the field. Several reasons drove me towards joining the field. Ever since, I had been having the passion of serving the community in a direct capacity (Pollock, 2012). I enjoy dealing with people in a manner that works towards giving them comfort. In as much as it is a disgrace to identify with criminals, I have always wanted to change that perception. The society should accept criminals as part of it and avoid practices that are likely to victimize them. Victimization tortures them psychologically. The study of criminology gives me a good understanding of the need for good behavior. It enables me to understand reasons why people commit crime. It is important to acknowledge that some victims are not to blame for the crimes that they commit. Human beings are rational beings. Comparison between good and bad is relative to every individual and society. Whereas many communities take killing as a maximum violation of human rights regardless of the situation, some communities value it when done in the right manner such as against another religion (Pollock, 2012). I have to make the society appreciate criminals while giving them justice. They should receive necessary justice and not be victimized as outcasts in the society. Criminals are as well human brings like any other person. Reference Top of Form Top of Form Top of Form Ferdico, J. N., Fradella, H. F., & Totten, C. D. (2013). Criminal procedure for the criminal justice professional. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Harr, J. S., & Hess, K. M. (2010). Careers in criminal justice and related fields: From internship to promotion. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Pollock, J. M. (2012). Ethical dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More