Courts

There are SEVERAL MILLION arrests each year in the US

Huge flood of cases passing through courts

Includes local, state, federal

Courts

The Wedding Cake Model (know this well!!)

Especially the two middle felony layers!

Courts

Courtroom work group – people in the courts

Courthouse culture – shared goals, rationales, etc.

“Doing Justice” – practical explanation of process

Courts

Serious and less serious felonies

Three key factors that separate:

- Harm/Injury

- Background of offender

- Relationship of offender/victim

Courts

Second layer – court culture very harsh “Criminals”

Third layer – court culture generally lenient “Losers”

Courts

Some implications ...

- Public misunderstanding

- “Get tough”

- Third layer issues - discrim, etc

Courts

- Plea bargaining

- “Endless pool” of poor (third layer)

- What criminologists study

- Homicides & culpability

Courts

The “dual system” (based on social class)

(bail & private attorney)

Courts

Plea bargaining - Settlement

“Normal Crimes”

Courts

“Dipping into the third layer”