Criminal Justice

1. How might community policing based on the crime control model of criminal justice differ from community policing based on the due process model?

No matter which model is chosen to be enforced, changes will inevitably ensue. Some of the changes will include the right to counsel at different stages of the justice process, the preliminary hearing, the grand jury, pretrial detention, plea bargaining, sentencing, appeals, and juvenile justice. Criminal courts will also have to adapt the changes in demographics and technological advances. Regarding the right to counsel with the crime control model, having representation at any stage other than the trial is considered a luxury. With the due process model the right to counsel is considered crucial through out the process and must be made available right away. It seems to me that the due process model focuses more on protecting suspects and citizens then solving the crime or enforcing the law. The crime control model seems to have justice as a top priority regardless of what it takes to achieve it. This model seems like it will be more likely to be protested by citizens.

2. How might the changing demographics of the U.S. population affect the operation of criminal courts?

The changing demographics of the U.S. population will affect the operation of the criminal courts by forcing them to adapt. Most of the current conflicts are handled by alternative resolution programs which use mediation techniques and arbitration. Restorative justice may play a larger role in the future. Criminal courts will have to be more prepared to deal with all sorts of situations of future disasters. Demographics as well as technology will no doubt play a role in the change of the administration of justice.

3. How might bionics affect law enforcement in the future?

The future of law enforcement could be affected by the rapid advances of bionics which would replace human body parts with mechanical ones. This technology could allow for officers to have better long distance vision or sensitive enough ears to hear distant conversations. With the crime control model, there would be almost no restrictions on the new technology created.

4. What is perhaps the thorniest issue regarding the use of DNA technology as a law enforcement tool?

The thorniest issue with this technology is how the DNA database will collect and use the information. If the principles of the due process model are more commonly used then the DNA database will most likely only comprise of booked suspects as is the fingerprinting database. However if the future of police becomes more structured like the crime control model the database may include samples from infants as well. It is most likely that this is the database the public will have