CJ 207 Southern New Hampshire U.S. Judicial System Hierarchy & Roles Worksheet

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Scenario

You are the Director of Local Community Outreach for the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), a national professional organization. Your position is to aid mid-sized cities in their efforts to educate citizens about how to interact with the judicial system. Your position includes consulting, running community programs, and creating educational materials.

Directions

The ACJS is committed to promoting equity in the criminal justice system.

• Explain how the court system in the United States works. Address the following questions in your explanation:
  • How do the three types of courts relate to each other?
  • How do courts provide checks and balances?

• Explain the functions and responsibilities of various members of the criminal justice system. You must address each of the following members:
  • Judges
    • Consider addressing some of the key issues or ethical factors a judge might encounter.
  • Prosecutors
    • Consider including the impact of prosecutorial discretion on the court process.
  • Defense Counsel
    • Consider addressing the differences between public and private defenders and the role each plays in due process.
  • Allied Professionals
    • Consider including some of the following roles: court stenographer, probation officers, court clerks, and court deputies.

• Describe the role of various courts.
  • What is the role of the appeals courts? Include:
    • Local courts
    • State courts
    • Federal courts
  • What is the role of specialized courts?

• Describe the jurisdictions of different courts in the United States. Include each of the following:
  • Explain why different courts exist.
  • Provide an example of a different court.
  • Describe the importance of its jurisdictional difference.
  • Describe some of the issues that can arise from this jurisdiction.
    • You may want to consider:
      • Military courts
      • Native American courts or U.S. court jurisdiction over Native Americans