1.2

• Criminal justice system


  All the interconnected agencies that deal with the law, as well as crime before and after it has happened
• Parts of the criminal justice system

  • Law creation & administration
  • Law enforcement
  • The courts
  • Punishment
• Law creation & administration

  Passing of laws by parliament and running of the system by government departments
• Law enforcement


  By the police
• The courts


  Deciding the outcome of cases
• Punishment


  By prison and probation
• Police


  • Manage both accused on remand and offenders released on parole or licence
  • Collect evidence and liaise with the crown prosecution service in charging and prosecution of offenders
  • Funded by government through the home office
  • Responsible for the enforcement of laws
• Ministry of Justice


  • Government agency responsible for the management of courts, prison service and probation
  • Responsible for the appointment of magistrates to criminal cases
  • Responsible for safeguarding of victims- including children, vulnerable peoples and those seeking access to justice
  • Created in 2007
  • Member of the cabinet
  • Responsible for the court system, legal aid, the lawyer profession, judges, prisons, penal policy, probation and offender management
• Home Office


  Responsible for policing
• CPS


  • Independent of police, makes decisions on whether cases should be prosecuted and charges levied
  • Advises police during initial investigations
  • Prepares cases and presents them at court- KIng Counsellors are barristers in court that represent the crown
  • Provides information, assistance and support to victims and prosecution witnesses
• HM courts and tribunals


  • Responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales
  • Administers punishment for offenders found guilty
  • Provides supporting administration for a fiar, efficient and accessible courts and tribunal system
• Probation service


  • Responsible for managing offenders throughout their time in the criminal justice system
  • Works with other agencies such as police and courts to monitor offenders released on parole or licence
  • Liaising with police and prisons to facilitate release of offenders
• Sentencing Council


  • Reviews the sentences handed down by judiciary in criminal cases
  • Liaises with legal professionals and pressure groups to ensure judgements passed are fair and proportionate
• Pressure groups


  • Amnesty International
  • Unlock
• Sentencing guidelines


  Produced by the Sentencing Council to provide guidance on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals and aims to increase public understanding of sentencing
• Sentences are reviewed to make sure they are fair and hold no bias
• Law creation


  • Parliament - passes Acts (which become legislation / statute law)
  • Judges - create law itself by setting judicial precedents that other courts must follow and by interpreting the meaning of statutes
• Administration of the criminal justice system

  • The Ministry of Justice focuses on the legal process
  • The Home Office is in charge of law enforcement