POLS 207 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Juven, Amicus Curiae, Ordnungspolizei
9 Nov 2016
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Reading notes chapter 9: courts, crime, and correctional policy. Courts are political institutions since they attempt to resolve conflicts in society. Some of the nation"s most important policy decisions have been made by the courts. Taken the lead in eliminating racial segregation, ensuring the separation of church and state, defining the rights of criminal defendants, guaranteeing individual voters and equal voice in government, and establishing the right of women to obtain abortions. There are two distinct types of courts that deal with certain case: the federal court and the state courts. The state"s courts handle the types of cases where the individual citizens is directly involved- robberies, traffic violations, contracts, divorces, child custody, family disputes. The style of courts judicial decision making differs from that of legislative or executive decision making. Courts rarely initiate policy decisions; they wait until a case that involves a policy question is brought to them. Access to courts is only through cases.
