The Crime Control Model

Our society for the most part has a set of written laws by which it operates under. Laws govern our behavior in society and list punishments by which individuals that break them will be prosecuted and sentenced. Our criminal justice system is essential made up of three major intuitions which see a case from the beginning and through the trial and finally to the punishment phase ("How Does the Criminal Justice System Work?," 2014). Our society needs laws and punishment for those who violet the laws otherwise we would live in a world of chaos. In this paper we will examine various aspects of the criminal process from arrest through sentencing and appeal.

The criminal justice system consists of models and theories that often contradict one another. Of these models are the crime control model, the due process, model, the consensus model and the conflict model. In this paper these models are evaluated and defined, as well as each entity in the criminal justice systems role within each model. Policing, corrections and the court system all subscribe to each model in some way and in a hurried manner in cases that dictate such a response. As described by Erik Luna in the Models of Criminal Procedure, the following statement summarizes the aforementioned most appropriately.

Both models’ fundamental principal is discovering the truth. The crime control model focuses on the truth regardless of how it is reached whereas the due process model places restrictions on what the state can do to discover the truth. In addition, the crime control model aims for the repression of criminal conduct, whilst the due process model aims to prevent and eliminate crime. Packer’s intentions were not to create two separate models; rather he intended to create a spectrum from one extreme to the other. The Scottish legal system does not wholly consist of crime control elements nor due process elements. It is a mixture of both of these models that attempts to balance the rights of the state to secure a conviction, with the rights of the accused to a fair trial. It can be seen that there is not an appropriate balance between the two as there is not equal and proportionate rights given to both parties, resulting in excessive protection being given to the defendant. This imbalance is best described by discussing the powers of the state in contrast to the defendant’s rights pre-trial and during trial.

The major difference between the crime control model and the due process model of law enforcement is that crime control works to repress criminal activity, and due process works to protect a person's rights. Crime control is more focused on the community well-being, versus due process which focus's more on the person who committed the crime. Crime control also believes that it is better to detain an innocent suspect rather than let them be free until proven guilty. Obtaining evidence becomes the number one priority for crime control. Due process only allows evidence to be collected a certain way. Criminals may be allowed to go free if a there was an error in collecting evidence. For an example, in the O.J Simpson case there were issues involving

The Crime Control Model states that there may be some individual rights that need to be sacrificed for the good of society as a whole. In the Crime Control Model crime is actively and aggressively pursued and punished. Some of the methods used to employ this method are "targeting high crime areas, increased patrols and traffic stops, profiling, undercover sting operations, wiretapping, surveillance, and aggressive raids and searches." (Perron) The benefits of the Crime Control Model are that criminals and crime itself is what law enforcement begins to target. The negative effect is that the zealous pursuit of crime and often result in huge amounts of collateral damage or even loss of human life.

Duo Process and Crime Control Model are very much different from each other, and have different values to the criminal justice system. Due Process Model believes that policing within the criminal justice system is crucial to preserving justice within society. Also, Due Process Model believes in the rights of the defendants and proving their guilt is essential to keep the government in control. Due Process Model believes that people that are detained are perceived to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. On the other hand, the Crime Control model believes that the people that are arrested need to be punished by the government if they are found guilty. Overall, the Crime Control model has a negative effect on the criminal justice system and believes that the rights of the defendant exceeds the amount of money spent on employing police officers and building prisons.

When comparing the crime control law enforcement approach in contrast to the approach the rights-based approach to law enforcement it is import to the differences in being a crime fighter versus a public servant. The dynamics of each bring uniquely different philosophical objectives and outcomes for the public. What is the primary role of law enforcement? Some would argue combating crime is the primary role. Others would argue providing protection through service is the primary role. In either case, when examining each philosophy it is important to objectively view the outcomes each provides.

The value basis that underpins the crime control model is founded on the suggestion that the despotism of criminal behavior is by a great extent the most essential function to be undertaken by the criminal process. The absolute let down by the law enforcement to curb and control criminal behavior is perceived as the principal raison d'être leading to a crash of public order and a broad ignorance of the legal control measures are likely to grow. Accordingly, the crime control model takes cognizance of the maximization of the number of wrong doers caught, stopped and dealt with by justice.

The criminal justice field faces the challenges of getting criminals off the streets, and prosecuting them, while using limited funds and manpower. Citizens expect results, and want to feel safe when they are in their own neighborhood. On the other hand, citizens in our democratic country expect people to be treated fairly, and feel the need to make sure that no innocent people are wrongly sent to jail. It is a balancing act of keeping the community safe on one hand, and on the other, making sure that no one’s rights are violated. It is like being told to do a job, but then having all these rules and obstacles you have to navigate around in order to do your job. The following paper is a study of the differences between due

The reason for policy analysis reflects around the assessment of policies from the government by critiquing the failures and successes. The United States implement several policies to deal with criminal activity and social issues, for instance The United States Human Trafficking Policy, this policy is not a successful one but this policy is steadily improving with sustainable reform. The criminal justice system practice the model of Packard’s Due Process, established with the promise

Most people don’t know about the three major components of the criminal justice system, but, in this paper the reader will know what they are. The reader will also read about how the three components interrelate to one another, and also how the conflict one another. The

The legitimacy of the criminal justice system is based largely upon both its effectiveness and its fairness. Its effectiveness is judged by its ability to investigate and detect crime, identify offenders and mete out the appropriate sanctions to those who have been convicted of offences. Its fairness is judged by its thoroughness and the efforts it makes to redress the resource imbalance between the accused and the state at the investigatory, pre-trial, trial and appellate stages. The system does this by providing evidentiary protection and effective legal representation at all points.

The “crime control model” refers to a theory of criminal justice which places importance on reducing the crime in society through increased police and prosecutorial powers. This means that the model wants to see criminal cases handled through quick procedures and direct handling of cases from start to finish. The model believes that if a police officer has respected a person’s rights from the beginning of the case until the conclusion of arrest then the individual is likely to be guilty. The model could also be described as founded on the presumption of guilt.

However, the due process model emphasizes on the role of individual liberties in reducing crime. It believes that when given freedom and liberties, people have the ability to eliminate crime in the society. Based on the rate of crime in the society, the crime control model is the most effective to reduce crime. One of the key differences between the two models is in their perception of crime repression. Crime control model asserts that the criminal justice system should aim at crime repression as its most important function in order to reduce crime in the society.

In one of the most important contributions to systematic thought about the administration of criminal justice, Herbert Packer articulates the values supporting two models of the justice process. He notes the gulf existing between the "Due Process Model" of criminal administration, with its emphasis on the rights of the individual, and the "Crime Control Model," which sees the regulation of criminal conduct as the most important function of the judicial system.