Pick one aspect of the criminal justice system: policing, courts, or corrections in your local community. Identify one deficiency within your chosen area and explain how you would improve that deficiency. Why did you choose this particular deficiency?Your journal entry must be at least 200 words in length. No references or citations are necessary.
Pick one of the countries discussed in the Unit V Lesson Presentation (Japan). Explain one aspect of its criminal justice system (policing, corrections, or the courts) that you believe could be improved. If you were in charge of that countrys criminal justice system, what would you do to make it stronger? What changes could be implemented that could make it weaker? How does that system compare to the U.S. criminal justice system? must be at least 300 words in length with 1 reference minimum
Sample Solution
Local Deficiency:
One significant deficiency within the criminal justice system in many communities, including my own, is the over-reliance on incarceration for non-violent offenses. This often leads to overcrowding in jails and prisons, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, and failing to address the root causes of crime.
Improvement: To address this, I would advocate for a stronger emphasis on diversion programs and community-based alternatives to incarceration. These programs could include:
Mental health and substance abuse treatment: Addressing underlying issues that may contribute to criminal behavior.
Job training and vocational rehabilitation: Providing individuals with the skills and resources to find employment and become productive members of society.
Restorative justice programs: Facilitating dialogue and reconciliation between offenders, victims, and community members.
By investing in these alternative approaches, we can reduce the reliance on incarceration for non-violent offenses, improve public safety, and promote rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Japanese Criminal Justice System: Focus on Corrections
The Japanese criminal justice system, while generally considered fair and efficient, could benefit from a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration within the corrections system.
Potential Improvements:
Increased focus on rehabilitation programs: Expanding access to educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs within prisons to equip inmates with the skills and support they need to successfully reintegrate into society.
Reduced reliance on long-term imprisonment: Exploring alternatives to long-term incarceration for non-violent offenders, such as community service, electronic monitoring, and restorative justice programs.
Strengthening community-based re-entry programs: Providing more robust support services to individuals upon release from prison, such as housing assistance, job placement assistance, and mental health services.
Potential Weakening Changes:
Reduced emphasis on rehabilitation: Focusing solely on punishment and retribution could lead to higher recidivism rates and undermine efforts to reduce crime.
Increased reliance on private prisons: Privatizing prisons could lead to profit-driven incentives that prioritize incarceration over rehabilitation.
Comparison to the U.S. System:
The Japanese system emphasizes rehabilitation to a greater extent than the US system, which often prioritizes incarceration. The US has a significantly higher incarceration rate than Japan, with a greater emphasis on punishment and less emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration.
