The Western criminal justice system is a cornerstone of modern society, built on centuries of legal precedent and designed to keep citizens safe and maintain order. The two subgroups of Western law are civil law tradition and English common law. Western law is perceived to be rational, formulated for the public good, and flexible to meet changing circumstances, but some argue that it can also be used to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful. However, as Bracey points out in Chapter 4 of his book, significant shortcomings in the current system must be addressed as explained by dissertation assignment help. In particular, he highlights three key failures: its lack of success in deterring offenders from committing future crimes, its inability to meet the needs of victims, and its failure to reintegrate offenders back into society effectively.
The first delimitation of the Western criminal justice system that Bracey identifies is its inability to meet the needs of victims. Whereas European courts are able to combine civil and criminal cases, allowing victims to sue for damages, this process does not address their nonmaterial needs. On the other hand, by dissertation help common law does not even provide this option, assuming that seeing offenders convicted and punished will satisfy the victims (Bracey, 2005). However, as Bracey argues, victims often require more than just retribution against their offender. They may need counseling, support, or even an apology from the offender to fully recover from the harm done to them. Restorative justice, a movement for reforming the justice system, seeks to address this failure by placing greater emphasis on meeting the needs of victims.
The second failure of the Western criminal justice system that Bracey highlights is its failure to deter offenders from committing future crimes. High recidivism rates suggest that the current system is ineffective in preventing repeat offenses. In contrast, punishment may deter some individuals from committing crimes; it is not a sufficient deterrent for many others. Restorative justice advocates for a more holistic approach to rehabilitation, which considers the underlying causes of an offender’s behavior and seeks to address those issues to prevent future criminal activity criminology assignment help argues that the third failure of the Western criminal justice system that Bracey identifies is its failure to reintegrate offenders back into society effectively. Incarceration can have long-lasting negative effects on an individual’s life, including reduced employment opportunities and social isolation (Bracey, 2005). This can make it difficult for offenders to successfully reintegrate into society and even increase the likelihood of future criminal activity. Restorative justice addresses this failure by emphasizing the importance of community involvement in the rehabilitation and reintegration process.
Furthermore, sociology assignment and homework help requires the current legal system could be better, and a utopian view of reform may be overly optimistic. Legal systems are complex and deeply ingrained in society, with various stakeholders invested in maintenance. Any reform will require careful consideration of potential unintended consequences and engagement with all stakeholders, including those with opposing views.
However, Bracey’s suggestion that the legal system must be reformed globally is somewhat utopian. The Western criminal justice system is deeply entrenched in legal precedent, cultural norms, and political structures, making significant reform difficult. Moreover, different legal systems have different histories and traditions, and what works in one context may not work in another. While there is room for improvement within the Western criminal justice system, it is unlikely that a one-size-fits-all solution that will be effective in all contexts can be found.
Bracey’s critique and advocacy for restorative justice provide a valuable starting point for improving the criminal justice system. By placing greater emphasis on meeting the needs of victims, rehabilitating offenders, and reintegrating them back into society, we can address the current system’s failures and create healthcare assignment help; a more just and equitable society. Whereas achieving this goal may be difficult and require significant reform, it is an important task we must undertake if we hope to create a better future for all.