Criminal Justice Process

Criminal Justice

Abstract

This paper will explain how the criminal justice system works. The O.J. Simpson case was used to outline the roles in the criminal justice process. This paper will detail information from the reporting of the crime to the sentencing in which Simpson was found not guilty of committing murder. Dates have been included in the paper to insure the timeline is accurate. The intent of this paper is to outline the case from start to finish. The criminal justice process is a very complex system that requires a significant amount of time, it’s most important to give both sides an opportunity to argue their case. Not all trials are over within a year, most complex cases take up to three years to cover all the evidence and procedures adequately. The O.J. Simpson trial took three years before a final verdict was reached and even then there were still varying opinions concerning the verdict.

Introduction: Crime The criminal justice process is a long tedious process. Cases can take months to years to be completed, depending on the severity. When a suspect is arrested, they are taken to the police station and booked. This means they are fingerprinted and their personal information is entered into the criminal system. After the investigations are conducted charges can then be brought against the suspect. The suspect will have an initial appearance in court. Misdemeanor cases may be dropped/dismissed, which means no legal action will be taken. Felonies are presented to the grand jury where there is a preliminary hearing. If a person is being charged with a crime, an arraignment hearing will take place. At that time, charges will be made, reduced or dismissed. In the felony process, there will be a plea bargain, which is confessing to a lesser charge or having a trial, which is standing charged for the crime as stated. Depending on the outcome of the case, an appeal can be filed requesting a new trial. The appeal can be granted or rejected. If the appeal is granted a new trial takes place. However, if the appeal is rejected, then sentencing takes place. The convicted person will be charged and given one of the following: probation, jail time, prison time or restorative justice. If a person is sentenced to prison, they can get a pardon clemency, capital punishment or paroled and then be out of the system. Upon completing a sentence the convicted person will exit the system. Though our criminal justice process can be long and tedious, it is worth the time and effort in the long run in order to keep serious criminals off the streets. (Cole, 1975).

Murder Trial of O.J. Simpson O.J. Simpson was accused of killing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman by stabbing them to death on June 12, 1994. The bodies were found in the front courtyard of her Brentwood condominium around 12:10 am. O.J. was notified about the murders on June 13, 1994, while in Chicago on a business trip. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he was handcuffed and taken in for questioning. Due to the complexity of the case, O.J. was questioned for 3 hours but later released. Realizing the severity of the situation, O.J. retained Robert Shapiro as his defense attorney, in order to present with a strong counsel. On June 17th 1994, when the police went to arrest O.J. for the two murders, he failed to surrender and somehow slipped out of Robert Kardashian’s home. Then he proceeded to lead the police on a 60 mile low speed chase. Simpson’s friend, A.C. Cowlings was driving the getaway car, which happened to be Simpson’s wife’s white Ford Bronco. When he arrived at his home in Rockingham he was arrested and placed in jail without bail. The preliminary hearing started on July 8, 1994 by Judge Kathleen Kennedy-Powell and lasted six days. Judge Powell stated there was sufficient evidence for Simpson to stand trial for two-counts of first degree