Interesting Information About the Criminal Justice System
Nearly every country in the world has an elaborate criminal justice system. Specifics vary from country to country, but most systems are somewhat similar and are based on the belief that bad deeds should be punished in some way, and that there should be a deterrent to individuals committing acts that harm society and other people. Within this larger framework, the U.S. justice system has many interesting facets.
The Availability of Bond
When a person is charged with a crime, they often must go to jail. So the individual does not have to wait in jail until a trial is set, which could take weeks or months, the judge often sets bail. This monetary amount is paid to the court and the person gets released. If the person does not have the money to pay the bail, he or she might contact an agency such as bail bonds Harrisburg PA. This allows the person to pay a bond, an amount that is often a percentage of the bail, and get out of jail right away.
The Quantity of Attorneys
Lawyers practice many aspects of law, and they are vital to the U.S. criminal justice system. They represent people charged with crimes in many areas:
- Felonies
- Misdemeanors
- White collar crimes
- Violent crimes
It is estimated that the U.S. had around 1.3 million criminal defense lawyers in 2020. That amount has stayed relatively constant for the past several years.
The Number of Judges
Judges also represent another vital aspect of the system. They are often attorneys who have moved on to become judges, and they often have a high degree of experience and education. There are many types of judges, from those who work in district courts to appellate courts to the state and U.S. Supreme court judges. In the federal court system, there are nearly 1,770 judgeships that work in 209 courts.