Criminal justice system

The institutions responsible for enforcing criminal law and dealing with offenders, including the police, courts and prisons.

The agencies involved in enforcing criminal law and dealing with offenders, including the police, courts, prison service and probation service.

The criminal justice system includes the police, courts, prisons and probation services. These have different responsibilities: investigating suspected offences, deciding cases, imposing sentences, holding people in custody and supervising offenders returning to the community. A police caution is a formal warning for a minor offence, such as graffiti.

Distinguish offending from recorded offending. The chivalry thesis concerns treatment by the criminal justice system, not proof that women actually commit fewer crimes.

The institutions involved in enforcing criminal law, deciding criminal cases and dealing with convicted offenders.

The police and courts are agencies of formal social control because their powers come from the state. They are part of the criminal justice system, alongside institutions such as prisons. Their authority extends beyond expressing disapproval: police can arrest suspects, and courts can impose legally enforceable punishments.

Definition

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE Sociology · 8192

Eduqas GCSE Sociology · C200

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