Explain what discretion is and how it creates two different criminal justice systems

What will be an ideal response?


Discretion is the ability of individuals to make operational decisions based on personal judgment instead of formal rules or official information. A formal criminal justice system is when participants follow formal rules to create smoothly functioning disposition of cases from arrest to punishment. There is little room for discretion in the formal criminal justice process. The informal criminal justice process recognizes the informal authority exercised by individuals at each step of the criminal justice process. This system lends itself to the use of discretion by those making the decisions.

Criminal Justice

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What are common examples of consciousness of guilt?

What will be an ideal response?

Criminal Justice

When an elderly individual is left alone, isolated or forgotten by family and friends, it is a form of abuse defined as ______________

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Criminal Justice

The media can be of help to a homicide investigation by all of the following except _____ .

a. alerting the public to a suspect in a murder case b. asking for the public's help in identifying a victim c. asking people to come forward to give information d. publishing information that compromises a case

Criminal Justice

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of _____ was intended to prevent unwarranted removal of children from their families by making “reasonable efforts” to keep families together or to unify families in a timely manner if placement could not be avoided.

a. 1970 b. 2000 c. 1980 d. 1990

Criminal Justice