Core Components of Criminal Justice

Unit 1 Assignment; Lindbergh Baby Case Analysis

Unit 1 Assignment; Lindbergh Baby Case Analysis

The Lindbergh Baby Case was an unsolved mystery from 1932 until the suspect was found guilty in 1934. As said by F. Schmalleger (2015), “the three core components of the criminal justice system are the police, courts, and corrections. Through the Lindbergh Baby Case, a swift analysis of the three core components; police, courts, and corrections will be used to come to a better understanding. Breaking down how the three core components played a role in the Lindbergh Baby Case is crucial to the understanding of the criminal justice system.

The police are always the first step in the beginning of any investigation for a multitude of different cases. Whether the case is to find a missing person or to apprehend a suspect. With the case of finding the Lindbergh’s baby, the sole purpose of the police, was to accomplish both finding a missing person and to apprehend a suspect to serve them justice. Kaplan University (2015), states “the crime took place on the night of March 1, 1932…the police were notified around 11:30 p.m. that the baby was kidnapped.” The police take numerous different statements and investigate multiple sites in hopes to find any leads which will help to solve the case. Even long after the indictment, the police are still in the forefront in the custody of said suspect. Conducting further investigations and gathering all evidence to ensure the charges will be upheld in the courts.

Certain cases have long and very extensive court proceedings. Throughout the duration of the courts process, the trial will go through the first appearance, the preliminary hearing, the arraignment, the adjudication, and finally the sentencing. According to Kaplan University (2015), “Bruno Hauptmann’s trial for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. began on January 3, 1935, when he had his first hearing.” Finally after the first hearing, the trial including...