The criminal justice system is comprised of law enforcement officers, courts, and the correction systems and it has the primary role of ensuring the safety of citizens. It is expected that the justice system keeps the society safe and preserves the rights and enforce the law as required. Criminals are expected to be arrested and punished. The expected role of the justice system is clearly defined as are their roles, but the onset of globalization has made the delivery of justice and preservation of peace n the country that more challenging. The United States has one of the best justice systems in the world, but over time it has been hit with snags and politicizing which have made hindered the quality delivery of services (Hall, 2012). Globalization is defined as the process in which societies, cultures, and economies create a synergy and become integrated through transport, communication, and technology (Beck, 2015). The idea of globalization is not new, but the effects are being felt in recent times. Globalization has led to the migration of persons from their homelands to new places in search of better opportunities. This is not a new phenomenon; it is how the new world was created. Traders, soldiers, explorers, and sailors brought on an integrated community, and it has been responsible for the economic freedom experienced in many nations today (Beck, 2015). The world is connected now more than ever, and the increased advancements in technology have enabled business and other services to be possible in real time. This paper is going to dicuss the effects of globalization on the U.S. criminal justice system and comparison of the U.S. policing, court or corrections system with that of another country. Compare the U.S. policing, court or corrections system with that of another country.
Under the criminal justice system, the law can only be valid only if it is sensitive to the history and the cultures of those it serves, who are the American citizens. Due to globalization, the nation is becoming more and more diverse than before, and it is important to have the society recognize what it means to have these changes. Not every immigrant who comes to the United States wants to bomb the nation; in fact, most of the shootings that have taken place within the United States have been conducted by citizens who were protected by the constitution (Beck, 2015).
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Globalization is also changing the definition of some words as we know them. Twenty or so years ago, a terrorist was a foreigner who made way to another country and committed crimes for which they justified in one way or another. Presently, terrorists are home grown, meaning that they have attended American schools, worked within the country, and some have never even left the country. They have access to information, and they are brainwashed to believe that the state is not protecting them as they should and it is up to them (Beck, 2015).
While for the most part globalization has been associated with positive feedback, the development has brought with it fresh challenges, especially for the American justice system. This interconnectedness of the American system with the rest of the world has made the delivery of services challenging. Advancements in technology have made it possible for law enforcement agencies to obtain information on individuals in a matter of minutes. These advancements were adjusted after the 9/11 attacks in the United States by extremists terrorist groups. Security measures were increased, and it became possible to detect terrorist plots before they were executed (Beck, 2015).
This interconnectedness made it possible for nations to share information and it is now possible to flag criminals who try to make way into the United States under false pretenses. Before these systems were put in place, it is hard to get information on individuals who had a criminal history, and it was in a different country (Hall, 2012). Globalization has seen criminals devise new ways of committing crimes and it has fallen on law enforcement and other related agencies to improve on their criminal activity response strategies. These systems are not only aimed at catching criminals from other countries trying to make way into the United States but for citizens who have committed crimes and are looking to flee (Pieterse, 2015).
The criminal justice system is the United States is one of the best in the world, and this makes it one of the more attractive nations to which people try getting into as they search for a better life. But, as more migrants are going into the country, it is proving difficult for the justice system to preserve peace in the country. Regions that wage war on the United States have stated that they are against the foreign policies held by this world power. The system adopted by the American government is one that insists on capitalism, modernity, nationalism, and industrialization something that is not willingly held by other nations. It is these uprooting of traditional ideals that bring controversy between with the United States (Hall, 2012).
The changing environment is seeing the American justice criminal system having to adapt new ways understanding crime and criminals. This will require significant changes to the law and policies governing the country and have more education being given the necessary enforcers to ensure they appreciate these new types of crime. Future justice system practitioners need to have an understanding not only of the American legal system but that of other countries (Hall, 2012).
Globalization is responsible for the increased gap between the rich and the poor. There are many opportunities presented, but only those who have access to adequate resources can gain from it thus able to enrich themselves. It leaves some of those in poor conditions having to result to criminal activities. Crimes such as drugs and human trafficking are on the rise as are cyber crimes in which criminals access personal information of unsuspecting users and defraud them of money and other valuable information (Hall, 2012).
While the corrections system in the United States is one that is favorable and is not marred by immense corruption, the same cannot be said about the regime in the neighboring Mexican region. Human rights watch groups and other independent oversight authorities who have visited many of the facilities in the country reported states of filth, overcrowding, sickness, crimes inside these walls. Records of criminals escaping are not the only manifestation found inside the prisons; there have been several incidences of mass killings usually a result of gang relations (Pieterse, 2015).
It is clear that the prisoners run the prison system in Mexico with reports of top drug kingpins running their empires from behind closed doors. These trends have seen the government pushing for extraditions of the criminals to the United States where they will find it harder to carry on with their illegal activities. These prisons do not fulfill their mandate of providing punishment and rehabilitating services to the criminals. Not only are their living conditions below par, but they are also subjected to ill-treatment by the guards most of whom are on the payroll of these gangs (Hall, 2012). Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon had proposed the construction of new facilities to help with the overcrowding and a facelift of the current facilities. However, this did not come to fruition.
The fact that globalization has made it easier to move from one location to another, and this has led to increased criminal activities. The most common crime being carried out between the United States and Mexico is drugs closely followed by illegal immigrants making way to the country. There are no alternative punishments for criminals even those caught with petty offenses or small amounts of drugs. As a result jails and prisons are full, even exploding in number. The administration rules with an iron fist, and there is little sympathy for those behind bars. A popular opinion in these Latin countries is that the prison conditions should be made tougher still to discourage the criminals or those on the outside to commit drug and property related crimes (Hall, 2012).
Lack of education is to blame for the state of crime in Mexico with up to two-thirds of the prisoners having not completed their primary school. While these unemployed persons find it hard to get jobs, those employed are less likely to commit these offenses (Pieterse, 2015). The same goes for the criminal system in the United States. The less educated minority groups populate the prisons and jails in the highest numbers. However, the prison system in the United States is managed by the state, and federal government and the prisoners are discouraged from running their gangs or participating in crimes outside the jail walls. Once found they are liable to have their terms increased or even have some of the privileges such as visitation taken away (Pieterse, 2015).
In conclusion, globalization is a game changer for economies, businesses, and the civilization as a whole. Consumers have better prospects when it comes to goods and services, but it can also be the downfall of society if not kept in check. Globalization has removed barriers and encouraged mobility. This movement will ensure that opportunities are within reach and countries have the chance to sign regional and international agreements to further this movement. However, there lies a new challenge for the justice system, and that is to find ways of combating new crimes brought on by this phenomenon and also other crimes that are being escalated due to the same.
References
Beck, U. (2015) What is globalization?. John Wiley & Sons
Pieterse, J. N. (2015) Globalization and Culture: Global mélange. Rowman & Littlefield
Hall T (2012) The geography of transnational organized crime: Spaces, networks, and flows . Abingdon: Routledge
