The Role Of Police In The Criminal Justice System

JSB173: Understanding the Criminal Justice System

Assessment 2: Reflective Journal

Topic: The role of police in the criminal justice system (CJS).

Summary: The role of police in the CJS was the topic for this week with Snr Constable Monique Duncan as a guest speaker. This week’s material helped me understand the significant and broad role that police play in the CJS such as controlling access to the CJS as a form of ‘gatekeeper’, their use of discretion and their power to report claims or not. In correlation, I learned of their importance in regards to the fair treatment of marginalised groups such as Indigenous and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

Issues: There are numerous issues associated with the role police in the CJS and the amount of power they hold. For example, the required reading this week detailed the ongoing issues surrounding police discretion and culture i.e. the occupational attitudes, norms and values and how these values cause problems including targeting and discrimination towards women, minorities and marginalised groups (Palmer 2012, 414-415). The extra reading for this week illustrated this issue by discussing the interactions police have with LGBT young people, explaining that the visible signs of non-heteronormativity young people makes them a target to police and paid

The due process model refers to upholding individual’s rights and ensuring they receive a fair process whereas the crime control model refers to upholding public order by sentencing offenders (Daly 2012, 396-397). I believe that the CJS should rely more on a due process model of justice as this issue demonstrates the opinions of police and their bias towards minorities and ethnic groups, meaning in a crime control model they are more likely to treat them