
As with law enforcement, courts operate within a jurisdiction, limiting the matters each court may hear. Each system varies slightly in its operation and rules. There is a federal court structure and 50 separate state court systems. The court system is adversarial meaning that each side of an argument has equal opportunity to represent its views in accordance with formal rules. Starter information: The court system in the United States was primarily promoted by Quakers in Pennsylvania, who wanted a system more humane than judicial measures of the time. As with all sections of the exam, an understanding of courts’ history will be evaluated. You will want to know the difference between adult and juvenile courts, in terms of process. This section will include questions about structure and levels within the courts system. Within each governmental level, there are often varying approaches to each practice. Each portion of this system is complex, containing local, state, and federal levels. justice system is comprised of three parts they are law enforcement, courts, and corrections. It was not until 1791, with the codifying of civil liberties through the Bill of Rights, that a unified American legal system was created. Early common law differentiated severe and lesser crimes by separating them into categories, known as felonies and misdemeanors. The system was made up of common law, meaning a system used to make decisions based upon legal decisions of prior judges which were known to colonists at that time. Early colonies, however, did not utilize persons trained in law. Starter Information: The justice system in the United States is primarily based upon that of England. It is a complex system that includes protections for both accused/criminal and victim. Furthermore, you will be asked questions related to the parts of the criminal justice system.Ĭriminal justice in the United States exists to prevent, mitigate, and punish criminal actions against citizens and their property. You will want to know how primary government documents, such as the Constitution and Bill of Rights, impact our system of justice. The criminal justice (CJ) system covered from a historical perspective, dating back to pre-revolutionary times will be assessed.
