Federal law enforcement agencies, legally part of the executive branch of the U.S. government, are independent of other law enforcement agencies and of legislative and judicial agencies (see Chapter 1).

Four major goals are usually attributed to the sentencing process: retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation. Retribution refers to just deserts: people who break the law deserve to be punished. The other three goals are utilitarian, emphasizing methods to protect the public.

I – THE COMMUNITY; II – THE LAW ENFORCEMENT; III – THE PROSECUTION; IV – THE COURTS; and V – CORRECTIONS. As we shall see, OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF FIVE PILLARS THAT FUNCTION LIKE A CHAIN OF LINKS.

The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other crimes, and moral support for victims. The primary institutions of the criminal justice system are the police, prosecution and defense lawyers, the courts and prisons.

The purpose of the Criminal Justice System… is to deliver justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent.

It can make it hard for people to find work, live in peace, marry who they want, and more. A major trait of social justice is that people of every race can live well and have equal opportunities. It seems like discrimination based on gender is one of the oldest forms of injustice around the world.

Social justice assigns the rights and duties in the institutions of our society, which enables people to receive the basic benefits and burdens of cooperation. Social justice helps us work toward celebrating diversity in our communities and country.