SOSC 2652 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Public Knowledge, Homicide
29 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
The criminal justice system is complex because it has multiple different responsibilities for the different decision makers. Judges are guided by the principle of proportionality - the severity of the sentence imposed should reflect the seriousness of the crime and the offender"s level of culpability. The public may lose sight of the complexity of the justice system"s mandate, which may explain why the ratings are lower than other public spheres. While the overall opinion of the justice system is positive, the public responds differently to specific branches. The public has a great deal of confidence in the police but far less confidence in other criminal justice professions, such as prosecutors and judges - similar trend in other countries. Reasons for the variations: the public is more sympathetic to crime control than due process. There are two errors he judicial system can make: convict innocent people, acquit guilty parties.
