Introduction
Criminal justice systems play a crucial role in various societies. They interpret and enforce laws in various jurisdictions to ensure that all citizens coexist peacefully. In the past, criminal justice systems were forced to rely on basic law enforcement tactics because most criminals were not well versed with sophisticated tactics.
As a result, more criminal justice systems are relying on proactive techniques to deal with various law enforcement challenges within their jurisdictions (Peak, 2008, p. 67). Despite all these efforts, criminal justice professionals operate in a hostile environment due to low levels of public trust. In the past, rigid structural problems discouraged criminal justice systems from engaging with the public on various issues.
However, current criminal justice departments have realized the benefits of working with various community stakeholders to attain positive outcomes in their operations. This essay analyses present and future crime trends to determine how they affect the operations of the criminal justice system.
Current and Future Trends that Affect Criminal Justice System
Many modern criminal justice systems have rigid structures which make it difficult for them to adapt to new changes. They have not been able to adapt their internal systems to deal with modern issues such as globalization, multiculturalism, technological developments, and changes in demographic compositions.
However, many criminal justice agencies have not changed their recruiting practices to hire highly skilled professionals who can anticipate new crime trends (Peak, 2008, p. 71). Sophisticated crimes such as cyber fraud, smuggling, corporate crimes, drug trafficking, and money laundering are committed by intelligent criminals who know how to avoid detection.
Therefore, the current situation requires criminal justice systems to push for the adoption of new laws to ensure their professionals adhere to higher standards of practice to enable them to discharge their duties more effectively.
Many criminals exploit laxity and incompetence by criminal justice systems to commit various offenses because they know they can easily get away with their crimes (Peak, 2008, p. 77). Therefore, law enforcement agencies need to acquire high-quality surveillance systems that gather information about the operations of various criminals to find out specific activities that they engage in.
Even though new laws have been introduced to combat serious crimes, law enforcement officers in some jurisdictions lack appropriate skills required to solve complex criminal acts.
For instance, both junior and senior law enforcement officers need to acquire forensic and technological skills to make them more competent in their duties. They also need to undergo constant training programs to keep them more focused on their duties. Consequently, this approach will motivate them to achieve better outcomes in their responsibilities.
In some instances, various criminal justice agencies do not have clear mandates that make them understand specific functions they are supposed to perform by existing laws. Therefore, their day to day operations is hampered by high levels of bureaucracy, which make it difficult for them to perform their duties freely.
This is exemplified by high levels of mutual suspicion that exists between law enforcement agencies on one hand and law courts on the other (Peak, 2008, p.80).
It is important for all agencies that are part of the criminal justice system to share information and resources so that they deal with various factors that impact on law enforcement more effectively. Thus, courts, police, and correctional departments need to collaborate to improve the quality of results they get from their operations.
There is also an increase in sociological factors that cause some people in some communities to resort to crime to achieve their ambitions (Waller, 2009, 93). For instance, criminal justice strategies have failed to address specific factors that encourage minors to engage in criminal activities in various societies.
This shows that the current criminal justice system fails to appreciate social factors that allow criminal gangs to use children to commit different criminal activities in various places. In some instances, underage convicts are housed in the same facilities as adult convicts who influence them negatively.
As a result, after their release, they are encouraged to engage in more serious crimes because they do not fear the possible consequences they are likely to experience from their actions.
Therefore, courts and correctional service systems lack appropriate programs that reform and rehabilitate young people that engage in crime. For a long time, criminal justice systems have focused more on punishing offenders rather than reforming them, and this has made it difficult for them to register positive outcomes.
Criminal Justice System in Changing Societies
One of the most significant changes taking place in various countries is the increase in multiculturalism. More importantly, globalization has made it possible for people from different cultural backgrounds to migrate and settle in new territories, away from their homes (Waller, 2009, 98).
Criminal justice organizations stand to benefit by changing the manner they do things to make people from different demographic groups to have favorable opinions about them.
This approach will enable the criminal justice system to improve its capacity to deal with various law enforcement issues that affect people from specific population segments. Therefore, law enforcement officers need to engage with people in such populations to solve different challenges that they face.
Law enforcement agencies need to develop partnerships with people living in various communities to fight crime. This approach will encourage people that are constantly victimized by criminals to share information with the police to ensure individuals who unleash mayhem on innocent people get punished severely.
Moreover, criminal justice agencies need to adopt service-oriented approaches to demystify their operations to improve public perceptions towards them. This approach will encourage more communities to develop appropriate strategies on their own to protect themselves from vicious criminal gangs. As a result, law enforcement officers will be able to predict and prevent different criminal incidents before they happen (Waller, 2009, 107).
A combination of tactical awareness, effective laws, high-quality surveillance methods, and community policing programs will help criminal justice systems to perform their duties more effectively in the future. Lastly, collaborations between police officers and community stakeholders will enable both parties to overcome various challenges that hurt law and order.
Conclusion
Criminal justice systems need to do away with bureaucratic practices to enhance their efficiency. Also, all agencies under the criminal justice system should collaborate and share information more to achieve better outcomes in their operations. They need to anticipate various challenges that are likely to impact on their current and future performance in different jurisdictions they operate in.
More importantly, law enforcement agencies need to adopt modern technological solutions to strengthen their tactical capabilities. Lastly, they should engage with community stakeholders to obtain crucial information regarding various law enforcement issues they are facing.
References
Peak, K.J. (2008). Justice administration: Police, courts, and corrections management. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Waller, B.N. (2009). You decide! Current debates in criminal justice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.