The United States Constitution keeps people’s freedom safe even when dealing with the complex criminal justice system. It helps prevent any abuse of power. The paper supports important beliefs that ensure everyone is treated fairly and protects against unfair use of power, from the first Bill of Rights to its later changes. This essay looks at four freedoms, how they are based on the Constitution, what they mean today, and how they have changed over time because of society and the courts.
Freedom from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures (Fourth Amendment):
This cornerstone prevents people from being illegally interfered with by the government in the field of life. It restricts the scope of the search, and searches and seizures that are not logical are banned. Warrants need to be obtained with probable cause (Epps, 2023). It is this freedom that regulates the way evidence is brought, thereby directly affecting criminal justice. As a result, this modification will lead to the establishment of the exclusionary rule, a legal principle that bars the utilization of illegally obtained evidence in the court of law, preventing convictions based on doubtful evidence. Initially, it was to hinder actual physical searches, but with changing opinions and technology, it has come to include digital searches and tracking.
Right to Due Process (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments):
This umbrella term encompasses several essential freedoms in this category, including the right to a fair trial, the right to have a lawyer, and the right not to speak if one does not want to. These rights are protected in federal courts by the Fifth Amendment. In state courts, they are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment through a process called “incorporation” (Amar, 2020). These rights ensure fairness in the criminal justice system from the initial questioning to the punishment. Throughout the years, people have looked at and talked about the process of due process in many different ways. This includes essential decisions made in the cases of Miranda v. Arizona and Gideon v. Wainwright. They are essential court cases that have to do with the right to remain silent. They acknowledged that even people who cannot afford a lawyer have the right to get one. These ideas are still being worked on, considering current concerns about unfair treatment based on race in the criminal justice system and many people being put in prison.
Right to a Jury Trial (Sixth Amendment):
This right means that people accused of serious crimes can have a group like them decide their case instead of just one judge. This defense helps ensure public servants cannot make unfair decisions in the criminal justice system (Amar, 2020). It encourages fairness and accountability. The Fourteenth Amendment made it so this right could be used in state courts, not just in federal courts like before. People are talking about what the best size and type of jury should be. A more extensive and more diverse jury would ensure everyone is represented fairly.
Protection against Cruel and Unusual Punishment (Eighth Amendment):
This change forbids disproportionate fines, disproportionate bail, and strangely harsh penalties. It is essential to stop the government from imposing excessive fines, encouraging compassionate remedies, and ensuring that sentences are proportionate (Criminal Justice Committee, 2020). The Supreme Court has ruled that sure execution strategies taken into consideration mercilessly and unusually are unlawful, and the extent of this safety has been mentioned and elevated over time. With non-stop debates concerning the morality of solitary confinement and life in prison, the period continues to be ambiguous.
Interpretation by Criminal Justice Professionals
Understanding and explaining these rights is difficult for people who work in law enforcement. We need to consider different perspectives and societal needs as they change. However, it is also essential to understand the original ideas of the people who made the rules to understand their time. Balancing traditional freedoms with today’s issues, like lots of people in jail, new technology, and changing values, is hard for judges, lawyers, and police (Kurlychek & Johnson, 2019). This careful balancing job needs lots of talking and looking closely. Discussions among experts, public talk, and critical legal cases influence these ideas.
The original means of the Constitution’s authors must be strictly adhered to, as some may additionally; however, it is crucial to recognize that the translation of those liberties is dynamic and should change to reflect changing society’s demands and beliefs. Individual freedom interpretations must consider the complicated and dynamic social framework the criminal justice device operates within. For example, changing legal doctrine, public opinion, and technological improvements all impact how constitutional rights are interpreted over time (Kurlychek & Johnson, 2019). Furthermore, as a way to cope with systemic issues like racial inequities, unequal right of entry for criminals, and the requirement for rehabilitation and reintegration, the criminal justice gadget needs to be exchanged. The American legal system follows the rules of the Constitution and changes to fit how society is changing. It ensures that everyone’s freedom stays essential, even when new problems arise.
Conclusion
The four rights that can be highlighted right here are only a tiny sample of the various protections that the U.S. Constitution offers. Their effect on the crook justice system is apparent; they have shaped practices, covered rights, and demonstrated superior fairness. Our interpretation and use of these rights have to trade as society does. Criminal justice professionals may also make sure that those pillars of character liberty persuade the system towards a simple and equitable future by appreciating their ancient foundations and having significant conversations.
References
Amar, A. (2020). The Constitution of the United States: A contemporary interpretation. https://openyls.law.yale.edu/bitstream/handle/20.500.13051/5269/America_s_Constitution_and_the_Yale_School_of_Constitutional_Interpretation.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y
Criminal Justice Committee. (2020). Criminal Justice Standards. Americanbar.org. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice/standards/
Epps, D. D. & D. (2023). The Fourth Amendment and General Law.https://www.yalelawjournal.org/article/the-fourth-amendment-and-general-law
Kurlychek, M. C., & Johnson, B. D. (2019). Cumulative Disadvantage in the American Criminal Justice System. Annual Review of Criminology, 2(1), 291–319. https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-criminol-011518-024815
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