The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is a federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for enforcing the law and administering justice in the United States. The DOJ was established in 1870 by the enactment of the Department of Justice Act. The DOJ is responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes, representing the United States government in legal matters, and running the federal prison system. The mission of the U.S. Department of Justice is “to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior, and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.”
The Department of Justice is headed by the Attorney General, appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate. The Department of Justice is divided into several divisions and offices, each with its specific area of responsibility. The Criminal Division is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes, including terrorism, public corruption, civil rights, and organized crime (Cole & DeJong, 2021). The Civil Division represents the United States in civil litigation, including cases involving the environment, civil rights, antitrust, and healthcare fraud. The National Security Division is responsible for investigating and prosecuting national security crimes, such as espionage and terrorism. The Division also works to prevent and disrupt terrorist plots. The Tax Division represents the United States in civil and criminal tax cases. The Division also works to enforce tax laws and collect taxes owed to the government. The Antitrust Division is responsible for enforcing the antitrust laws, which protect competition and promote economic efficiency. The Division investigates and prosecutes companies and individuals who engage in anticompetitive behavior, such as price fixing and market allocation.
Two of the functions of the DOJ include; First, Supervising the administration of justice in the country. This includes ensuring that federal laws are enforced and that justice is carried out fairly and impartially. The Department also provides support and resources to state and local law enforcement agencies. The department funds programs that help to educate people about the dangers of crime and to provide support for victims of crime.
The other function of the DOJ is its responsibility to protect the rights of Americans. The Department’s job is to ensure that all Americans are treated fairly under the law. The Department investigates complaints of discrimination and prosecutes people who break the law. This includes prosecuting those who violate civil rights laws, investigating allegations of police misconduct, and providing legal assistance to victims of crime (Quinney, 1974). The Department also provides legal advice to the President and other government officials. The DOJ enforces federal civil rights laws, provides leadership in civil rights enforcement, and educates the public about civil rights issues. The DOJ also ensures that state and local governments comply with federal civil rights laws. The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sex, age, and familial status. The Division’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases of civil rights violations. The Division’s Educational Opportunities Section is responsible for enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination in education.
One current event involving the Department of Justice of the United States is investigating whether or not colleges and universities were discriminating against Asian-American students in their admissions practices. This investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by a group of Asian-American students who claimed they had been discrimination victims. The Department of Justice’s investigation will focus on whether or not colleges and universities are using race as a factor in their admissions decisions (Langeluttig, 1927). Suppose the investigation finds that race is being used as a factor. In that case, the Department of Justice will take action to ensure that Asian-American students are not being discriminated against. This investigation is significant because it could impact how colleges and universities consider race in their admissions decisions. If the Department of Justice finds colleges and universities discriminating against Asian-American students, they may be forced to change their admissions policies (Quinney, 1974). This could lead to a more diverse student body at colleges and universities across the United States. The Department of Justice’s investigation into admissions practices at colleges and universities is ongoing, and it is unclear when it will be completed.
Significant milestones have affected the United States Department of Justice’s success. A significant milestone for the United States Department of Justice would be the confirmation of a new competent Attorney General. The Attorney general will ensure that the Department has a leader in place who is committed to carrying out its mission. This appointment is crucial to the Department’s success, as the Attorney General oversees its various functions (Cole & DeJong, 2021). The confirmed attorney general should be a highly qualified individual with a long history of service to the Department and who has served as a prosecutor at the state and federal levels. Confirming a new Attorney General could significantly impact the Department’s ability to carry out its mandate effectively.
The second major milestone affecting the United States Department of Justice’s success is the Department’s ability to secure convictions in high-profile cases. This will send a message to the public that the Department is serious about prosecuting criminals and will help to restore faith in the Department’s ability to protect the public. The Department has recently been criticized for its inability to secure convictions in high-profile cases, such as the trial of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez. If the Department can secure convictions in these cases, it will go a long way toward rebuilding public trust. Both of these milestones are critical to the success of the United States Department of Justice. If the Department can achieve these milestones, it will be well-positioned to continue its work of protecting the public and upholding the rule of law.
Inadequate funding is a possible cause that impedes policy implementation in the United States Department of Justice. The Department of Justice is responsible for various activities, including investigating and prosecuting federal crimes, representing the United States in legal matters, and providing legal advice to the President and executive branch agencies. However, the Department of Justice has recently faced budget cuts, which has limited its ability to carry out its mission. In 2013, for example, the Department of Justice was forced to furlough its employees for five days due to sequestration. The budget cuts also forced the Department of Justice to reduce its training and travel budgets and hire new employees. These budget cuts have significantly impacted the Department of Justice’s ability to function effectively and carry out its policy goals. The effect of inadequate funding on the United States Department of Justice is that it can decrease the number of investigations and prosecutions the Department can carry out. This can, in turn, lead to increased crime as the Department is pursuing fewer criminal cases.
Additionally, inadequate funding can also lead to a decrease in the quality of investigations and prosecutions, as the Department may not have enough resources to investigate and prosecute cases properly. Inadequate funding can also decrease morale among Department of Justice employees, as they may feel that the government does not value their work. This can lead to a decrease in productivity and efficiency within the Department. It can also lead to an increase in turnover, as employees may leave the Department for other jobs that offer better pay and working conditions.
One possible cause that impeded policy implementation in the United States Department of Justice is that the Department is short-staffed. This can lead to inadequate resources and personnel to implement the policy. This can also lead to a lack of knowledge and expertise in the Department to implement the policy properly.
Another possible cause that impedes policy implementation in the United States Department of Justice is a lack of communication and coordination between the various departments and agencies within the Department. This can lead to confusion and delays in the implementation of new policies. For example, the recent policy change regarding the use of body cameras by police officers has been impeded by a lack of communication and coordination between the various agencies involved (Quinney, 1974). There has also been a lack of funding for purchasing body cameras and training officers to use them properly. Another example is the policy change on drug testing of employees. The policy has been delayed due to a lack of communication between the agencies involved and a lack of funding to purchase the necessary drug testing kits. The lack of communication and coordination in the United States Department of Justice can be seen in many ways. One way is that it can lead to a lack of trust between the different agencies within the Department. This can lead to problems with information sharing and cooperation. This can lead to confusion and frustration among employees and even public outcry if cases are mishandled. In specific cases, a lack of communication and coordination within the Department of Justice can significantly impact the. For example, if different agencies are investigating the same case but are not communicating, this can lead to duplication of effort and a waste of resources. Also, it can lead to conflicting information being released to the public, eroding the Department’s confidence. In the worst-case scenario, a lack of communication and coordination can lead to dangerous criminals slipping through the cracks. A lack of communication and coordination within the United States Department of Justice can be quite serious. It can lead to low efficiency and effectiveness and even jeopardize public safety.
Improving information management capabilities within the Department of Justice is a strategy that can improve its effectiveness in planning, organization, and implementation. This could involve investing in new technologies to help track data and information related to investigations, cases, and operations (Cole & DeJong, 2021). It could also involve developing better systems for sharing information internally between different units and divisions. Additionally, the Department could create a centralized repository for all of its data and information, which would be accessible to authorized personnel. A more centralized structure would allow the Department to coordinate its efforts and efficiently use its resources. Improved communication and coordination would allow the Department to share information and resources and better target its efforts more effectively.
In conclusion, two functions of the Department of justice are being responsible for supervising the administration of justice in the country and also being responsible for protecting the rights of Americans. One current event involving the Department of Justice of the United States is investigating whether or not colleges and universities were discriminating against Asian-American students in their admissions practices. Two major milestones have affected the United States Department of Justice’s success. The first is confirmation of a new competent Attorney General, and The second is the ability to secure convictions in high-profile cases. One possible cause that impeded policy implementation in the United States Department of Justice is that the Department is short-staffed and has inadequate funding. Improving information management capabilities within the Department of Justice is a strategy that can improve its effectiveness in planning, organization, and implementation.
References
Cole, G. F., Smith, C. E., & DeJong, C. (2021). Criminal justice in America. Cengage Learning.
Langeluttig, A. (1927). The Department of Justice of the United States (Vol. 15). Ardent Media.
Quinney, R. (Ed.). (1974). Criminal justice in America: A critical understanding (Vol. 8). Boston: Little, Brown.
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