Reading Assignment for Section 2.2

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 2.2: Politics in Criminal Justice.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore how executive and legislative branch politics influence the criminal justice system. You’ll also understand the impact of local and state politics on policing. Furthermore, you’ll delve into Herbert Packer’s crime control model and due process model, with examples of relevant policies, and trace the development of the juvenile justice system in the United States.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 2.2

• SLO 1: Describe how political processes and actors, including elections, interest groups, and the media, influence decision-making in the criminal justice system.
• SLO 2: Analyze the impact of political considerations on different branches of the criminal justice system, including lawmaking, policing, prosecution, the judiciary, and corrections.
• SLO 3: Compare the Crime Control and Due Process Models, and evaluate the challenges and importance of balancing public safety with the protection of individual rights.
• SLO 4: Explain how political pressures and agendas can affect the fairness and effectiveness of justice, including the risks of politicized decision-making.
• SLO 5: Trace the historical evolution of the juvenile justice system and assess how changing political and social attitudes have influenced its focus on rehabilitation versus punishment.