- Introduction
- Comparison of the US and UK Criminal Justice Systems in Popular Media
- Comparative Analysis with Scientific Literature
- The Criminal Justice Systems in the US and the UK
- Good or Bad About the American Criminal Justice System
- Improvement Program Recommended for the American Criminal Justice System
- The Value of this Article from a Criminal Justice Perspective
- The Value of Popular Media
- Conclusion
- References
Introduction
The criminal justice system in the United States is often regarded as an exemplar of a fair and impartial system of justice, but how does it compare to the UK’s criminal justice system? The BBC News article “Why the US Supreme Court is So Much More Political Than the UK’s” attempts to answer this question by identifying positive or negative aspects and assessing the two systems (BBC News, 2018). This critical review will analyze the similarities and differences between the two systems, highlight their strengths and weaknesses, and assess the role of media in shaping public perceptions of prejudice and discrimination within the US system. It will also evaluate the article’s worth, particularly from a criminal justice perspective, and suggest areas for improvement.
Comparison of the US and UK Criminal Justice Systems in Popular Media
The US criminal justice system is frequently portrayed in the popular media as being harsher and more aggressive than the UK’s. This can be observed in the way that police personnel are portrayed as becoming more militaristic and violent, as well as in the way that criminals are portrayed as deserving of severe punishment. The criminal justice system of the United Kingdom is contrasted as being more forgiving and rehabilitative. Due to this characterization of the two systems, the public may develop attitudes and perceptions of prejudice and discrimination towards the American criminal justice system.
The BBC news article examines the differences between the US and UK criminal justice systems in terms of the roles of Supreme Court justices. Supreme Court justices in the United States are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In contrast, in the United Kingdom, the justices are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor.
This is a significant distinction between the two systems, implying that the United States Supreme Court is more politicized than the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. In the United States, the Supreme Court has the authority to review and overturn legislation passed by Congress, whereas in the United Kingdom, it does not (BBC News, 2018). Another significant difference between the two systems is that the US Supreme Court is more powerful than the UK Supreme Court.
Comparative Analysis with Scientific Literature
The scientific literature Comparative Criminal Justice Systems gives a topical approach that compares the criminal justice systems in the US and the UK. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems provides a comprehensive overview of the differences between the criminal justice systems in the US and the UK (Reichel, 2013). Reichel examines the approaches taken by both countries in their criminal justice systems, highlighting differences in criminal law and procedure, sentencing, prisons, and probation. The literature examines the impact of international law on the two systems, as well as the impact of the European Union’s criminal law harmonization (Reichel, 2013). Reichel’s work offers an in-depth analysis of the similarities and differences between the two countries, as well as how both systems have evolved to meet the changing demands of their respective societies.
The Criminal Justice Systems in the US and the UK
Both the American and British criminal justice systems work to defend the rule of law and safeguard the public. However, their approaches to criminal justice and political systems are different. The US Supreme Court has the authority to interpret laws and issue judgments. The UK Supreme Court is less partisan and places a greater emphasis on precedent and legal reasoning. While the UK system is viewed as being more liberal and rehabilitative, the US system is considered harsher and more punitive.
Good or Bad About the American Criminal Justice System
According to the article, the US Supreme Court is significantly more political than the UK. It can interpret the law and issue decisions that significantly impact it. This benefits the American system because it gives people the flexibility to respond to shifting conditions and make judgments that align with popular opinion. It can also be viewed negatively, as it may lead to the politicization of the law and the potential for power abuse.
Improvement Program Recommended for the American Criminal Justice System
The article does not explicitly recommend any specific improvement programs for the criminal justice system in the United States. Still, it suggests that more research be conducted to better understand the differences between the two systems and identify areas where improvements can be made. It also suggests that more consideration be given to the impact of mainstream media on how the public views and understands prejudice and discrimination.
The Value of this Article from a Criminal Justice Perspective
This article offers a comprehensive summary of the key distinctions between the criminal justice systems of the United States and the United Kingdom and how popular media impacts public attitudes and perceptions about bias and discrimination. It also provides valuable insight into the potential for politicizing law and areas for improvement. As such, it is a valuable resource for those who want to learn more about the differences between the two systems and the potential impact of popular media on public attitudes.
The Value of Popular Media
Popular media can shape public attitudes and opinions about prejudice, bias, and discrimination in our criminal justice system. The popular media can shape public opinion of the two systems by portraying the US system as more aggressive and punitive and the UK system as more lenient and rehabilitative. This raises the possibility of prejudice and discrimination against the American system, which should be considered when assessing the value of popular media.
Conclusion
According to the BBC News article, which compared the American and British criminal justice systems, the US Supreme Court is often regarded as more politically powerful and influential than the UK Supreme Court because of its ability to review the constitutionality of laws and set precedents that can shape how laws are interpreted.
References
BBC News. (2018). Why US top court is so much more political than UK’s. Web.
Reichel, P.L. (2013). Comparative Criminal Justice Systems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.