JSB173 Lecture Notes - Herbert Annesley Packer, Informal Social Control, Criminology
Document Summary
The criminal justice system serves two key functions: Room, x509: the state needs to appear to be responding to crime. Needs to make sure it is doing something that theoretically reduces crime: symbolic, the state must be seen as reducing the harm of criminal activity. It is about reinforcing what is seen as correct behaviour. The criminal justice system consists of a number of agencies who serve particular functions. Agencies share an important power called discretionary power" which provides room for argument as to whether the criminal justice system is really fair. Because of discretionary power, the criminal justice system is therefore not entirely predicable, consistent or certain. Important questions are posed as to whether certain people are treated differently within the system. This has given birth to the argument that certain people or groups of people are favoured by the system or unfavoured and this reflects a broader societal context.