How the rule of law influences professional practice in criminal justice
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Explain how the rule of law influences professional practice in criminal justice.
Scenario:-
You are a community outreach coordinator at your local law enforcement agency. The department has undertaken an initiative to reach out to diverse populations in your community. There is always a need in your community for support toward becoming a citizen. For example, numerous recent immigrants, resident aliens, and documented immigrants could all benefit from the outreach materials that explain how the criminal justice system works in the United States. You have been given the task of creating outreach materials for this initiative. The materials you’ll create for this project are specific to the rule of law and the constitution.
Your initiative needs professional materials to support it. Create one or more relevant products that address all of the required elements.
1. Describe how the Constitution guides law enforcement practice and policy. Include the following:
• A brief overview of the Constitution
i. Purpose of the document it. Brief summary of the document
• A summary of how the Fourteenth Amendment shifted the Constitution
2. Describe how the Bill of Rights guides criminal justice practice and policy. Include the following:
• A brief overview of the Bill of Rights
• The purpose of the Bill of Rights
3. Explain how the Fourth, Sixth, or Eighth amendment ensures specific rights given to citizens. Include the
• A brief explanation of the amendment
• A real-world example of when rights under this amendment might not be guaranteed
• A list of examples of times when the actions of criminal justice professionals may be restricted
4. Explain the importance of laws and policing in a democratic society (free society). Include the following:
• A brief history of policing in the United States, including the birth of modern policing in London
Sample Solution
The rule of law is established by the United States Constitution and it serves as the foundation for our criminal justice system. The rule of law influences professional practice in criminal justice by establishing a set of laws and regulations that must be followed in order to ensure fairness, equity, and public safety. For example, police officers must adhere to strict protocol when making an arrest; they are responsible for reading suspects their Miranda rights, treating them with respect while in custody, providing legal counsel if necessary, etc. Judges likewise must abide by the rules and procedures set forth under the rule of law when hearing cases or imposing sentences on offenders (Kenney & Hulson 2020).
In addition to these formal requirements placed upon criminal justice professionals, the concept of due process also plays a role here. Due process demands that all people involved in any case receive fair treatment regardless of race, gender or economic status (Babb & Zalman 2019). This includes creating equal opportunities for those accused of crimes to defend themselves against charges brought against them—as well as providing unbiased decisions based on evidence presented during judicial proceedings. Babb P., Zalman M., “Introduction To Criminal Justice: Theory And Practice” SAGE Publications Inc., 2019.
As an outreach coordinator at my local law enforcement agency I would create materials specific to the rule of law that explain how this foundational principle shapes professional practice within our criminal justice system. My outreach material will include information about due process rights afforded to all individuals regardless of race or social status; facts about what constitutes procedural violations including discriminatory/unfair practices; links/resources explaining how citizens can report abuse or misconduct within criminal court systems; as well as other pertinent topics related to protecting individual liberties from undue governmental interference. Kenney D., Hullson K., “Modern Criminal Law: Cases And Materials” Wolters Kluwer Law & Business Academic Publishers , 2020.. These materials will help educate members within diverse populations who may not have a clear understanding about their legal rights—allowing them better prepare if they ever encounter a situation involving potential abuse or injustice while interacting with authorities.
