The American Criminal Court System

The American Criminal Court System

Sami-Marcia Donovan

CJA/224

June 7, 2014

Gwendolyn Burrell

Abstract

Some say that crime is increasing, while others argue that crime is decreasing, in any event, it is not stopping and the Criminal Court System plays a crucial part in ensuring the safety of the American people and the communities they live in. The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate the development of the different court systems, their purpose and how they interact with each other to keep law and order in America today. This is an explanation of how the early legal codes, common laws, precedents, rules of jurisdiction and interpretation of the law impact the courts of today. In addition, this article will explain the dual court system and what role it plays in today’s criminal court system. Finally, a review of the new concepts in technology and how those concepts will assist in criminal investigations, court proceedings, the apprehension of criminals, as well as the assistance in freeing the thousands of innocent people incarcerated in our prisons today. Finally, an examination of how these new technologies will free the court systems from the overwhelming workloads they face today, so as the court becomes more productive in protecting the public, as well as helping to resolve the challenges the system has faced for decades.

The American Criminal Court System

The American Court system consists of two systems, the State, which is established by the authority of state governments, and the federal, which is established under Congress by the authority of the United States Constitution. Together these became known as the “dual” court system. It was agreed, by America’s Founding Forefathers that in order for each state to be able to regain individual legislative authority and judicial independence from federal court control, it was necessary for state courts be able to have their own system. Typically each State has its own court system,...