Criminology unit 3 - roles in the criminal justice system - help for unit 4

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Created by
Ella Stevens

Cards (17)

  • role of police officers
    first on the scene, they secure it for investigation
  • police detectives
    lead the investigation into the crime
  • Golden Hour

    time when evidence from crime should be collected to avoid contamination
  • Limitations of the police

    failure to investigate certain cases
  • institutional racism

    patterns of discrimination based on ethnicity
  • Role of a crime scene investigator
    collect, process and preserve evidence from crime scenes
  • strengths of the CSI
    Can prove innocence or guilt
  • limitations of the CSI
    -failure to collect evidence correctly can lead to an innocent person being convicted or the guilty going free
    - they may put their health and safety at risk e.g. guns and chemicals
    - work may be stressful and emotionally damaging
  • role of forensic scientists
    use knowledge to analyse and interpret evidence from the crime scene e.g taking blood samples and testing for matches

    usually specialise in particular areas
  • Strengths of Forensic scientists
    may identify evidence to prove guilt or innocence
    expertise may be essential in complex cases
  • limitations of forensic scientists
    - costly
    - contamination e.g. Adam Scott
    - if an expert misleads the court, this can lead to a miscarriage of justice e.g. Sally Clarke
  • role of pathologists
    establish the probable cause of death
  • strengths of pathologists
    they often provide conclusive scientific evidence as to the cause and time of death
  • limitations of pathologists
    - only 35 in England and Wales
    - costly
    - mistakes can lead to miscarriages of justice
  • Role of Crown Prosecution Service
    - decide if a case should be prosecuted
    - applies tests e.g. evidential test to make decisions
    - prepares cases for court hearings
  • strengths of the CPS
    removes police bias
  • limitations of the CPS
    -the power to reject police requests to prosecute someone
    - sometimes don't review evidence thoroughly before prosecuting