Criminal Justice: Search and Seizure

The Criminal Justice Systems has its checks and balances to maintain the right of privacy for every citizen. Law enforcement has strict guidelines that are derived from the Fourth Amendment that it must follow in order to preserve privacy. In order to search a person or property, a law enforcement agent must have a valid search or arrest warrant.

There are exceptions to the rule that a warrant must be obtained before performing a search. For example, if a person gives voluntary consent to the officer, the search is legal. There are also some cases where a third party who is in charge of the property may give consent (i.e., hotel management).

Law enforcement who detain motorists for traffic violations will typically issue tickets and allow them to proceed. However, if they have probable cause to believe that motorist or passengers have committed a traffic offense, police officers have the power to arrest and search motorists. Even if they plan only to issue a ticket, police officers can order drivers and any passengers to get out of a car. If law enforcement agent “reasonably believe” that driver or passengers might be carrying weapons, they can conduct a short frisk or pat down of all the car’s occupants.

In order to search a person or property, a law enforcement agent must have a valid search or arrest warrant.  If law enforcement fail to get a warrant or violate the terms of a warrant, the penalty for violating the Fourth Amendment by making an unreasonable or unlawful search or seizure can be severe. Under the "exclusionary rule” and the "fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine, any evidence that's obtained through an illegal search or seizure can't be used against you in court.

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that people must be secure in their homes and in their persons against unreasonable searches and seizures. This right states that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. No warrants shall issue but upon probable cause. This amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights and was adopted by Congress and became law on December, 15 1791.

In cases where an officer violates a person’s Fourth Amendment rights, and the search and/or seizure is found unlawful, the evidence will be kept out of the criminal case. This means that if a person’s home was searched, but there was no search warrant or other circumstances that would have justified the search and seizure, any evidence gathered during that time will not be allowed in court.

Online Criminal Justice Degree: Flexibility

For as long as we have seen crime, criminal justice has come into play.  No other career combines the potential of high-speed car chases, criminal investigations and courtroom battles to create one particular fast-paced work environment.  The objective of criminal justice is always to preserve order, prevent crime and enforce laws.  It entails all elements with the judicial system, which consists of law enforcement, the court system and correctional facilities.  With all the feasibility from the World-wide-web, it can make it uncomplicated for a person interested in these elements in the judicial system to receive a criminal justice degree online.

The excellent factor about receiving a degree in criminal justice is the fact that it could be completed from the comfort of your own home.  Quite a few institutions offer a criminal justice degree online that affords students flexibility in learning.  Completing a degree online, however, takes discipline and self-motivation.  Men and women need to have outstanding time management and organizational skills to assure they complete all of the course work.  It is also essential for students to have excellent communications and computer skills.  Most of the course work completed in an online program is accomplished via the internet, so becoming comfortable having a computer and having understanding of the Internet is important.

Online programs also make it straightforward for students to maintain a full-time or perhaps a part-time job while completing course work.  Many men and women cannot afford to take a few years off to complete a degree or usually do not possess a college or university close enough that provides a program of interest.  That is why a criminal justice degree online is an excellent option to far more traditional programs.  Due to the time commitment associated with a job, it is important for students to treat their time effectively.  Although some men and women may possibly not consider online degree programs are for them, an online degree in criminal justice is versatile in that it delivers three distinct programs to suit just about everyone's need to have.  These programs include an Associate’s degree, Bachelors degree as well as a Masters degree in criminal justice.

For all those men and women who aspire to further their education immediately after high school, an Associate’s degree is one particular option.  Receiving a criminal justice degree online can take as little as two years by going by way of the Associates degree program.  This distinct degree program offers course work in criminology, security and law.  Those that receive their Associates degree in criminal justice move on to a range of diverse career fields.  These careers include things like becoming a police officer, probation officer, courtroom administrator or perhaps a police detective among several other fields.

Individuals who wish to pursue a criminal justice degree online may possibly also be considering a Bachelors degree program.  The Bachelors degree is actually a four-year program in criminal justice and consists from the very same course work within the Associates degree program; however, it also consists of classes in investigation, terrorism, administration as well as a number of other classes.  Potential careers for all those who obtain Bachelor’s degrees many consist of private security officer, Juvenile delinquency case manager and corrections officer.  Following receiving a Bachelors degree, students may also go on to receive a Masters degree at the same time.

Receiving a criminal justice degree online is straightforward and affords students the flexibility of working at home by permitting them to create their very own hours.  It tends to make it uncomplicated for men and women currently within the profession field to advance their career by receiving a degree.  It also makes it attainable for men and women with families to receive a degree.  A degree in criminal justice also presents a wide range of career fields upon graduation.  So regardless of whether an individual desires to investigate crime scenes or arrest criminals, the career possibilities are endless.

Crime Scene Investigator: Forensics

Inside the Scientific community the crimescene investigator or evidence recovery technician is accepted as a forensic specialist. His/ Her specialty is deemed an expert organized step by step strategy for the processing of a crime scene. Extensive study, education, and encounter in crime scene investigations are required for the investigator to be proficient within the field. You ought to be properly versed in all areas of recognition, documentation and recovery of physical evidence that can be deposited in the scene. A general understanding of what analysis could possibly be performed within the lab too as proper procedures in handling, collecting and packaging of items of evidence is needed to assure those recovered items will safely arrive in the lab.

As element of specializing in forensic careers a number of legal and social processes are discussed. Understanding how the law and the judicial system operate is going to be an important of a competent forensic scientist. Along exactly the same lines you might want to realize the intricacies of documentation and other social sciences. All of those factors will make understanding forensic careers far less complicated.

Communication also includes being an excellent verbal communicator. Forensic careers typically include groups of diverse men and women that you simply must work with. You have to have the ability to communicate effectively with them all. Should you ever develop into an expert witness you are going to need to be able to communicate your investigations to a courtroom.

Most departments at this time prefer, if not demand some style of college degree. It could be advisable to get in touch with the departments or agencies where you reside or might be residing to find out their distinct requirements and duties. Regardless of regardless of whether your big education is in general research, criminal justice or forensics, a suggestion is usually to augment that research with minor courses in fundamental computer system training, drafting, and photography. Any curriculum developed for crime scene in criminal justice classes at most colleges is going to be developed in common studies not in specifics.

And as with any Criminal Justice degree course you'll want to be clear exactly what the expenses of your forensics degree is going to be. Developing an educational investment can be daunting tasks and you want to be confident you will be paying a suitable amount.

Any formal education allows you to fully grasp the wider sphere within which you will be dealing. Expertise increases you power more than any situation. A forensics degree isn't any different, simply because it sets you up with all the abilities you require in this field.

Why a Criminal Justice Degree?

A Criminal Justice degree can unlock countless possibilities within the field of law enforcement from the community level, towards the state level, and towards the national and international scene. A criminal justice degree can enable to insure career advancement, career security, as well as a higher salary beyond just a high school education.

In reality the criminal justice degree programs offered at community colleges, junior colleges, four-year universities or colleges, specialized training schools, and Online universities can definitely benefit two distinct kinds of educational-minded individuals - those who are looking to get started in a career and those who are looking to advance their career.

An person looking to start a career understands that having knowledge in one's chosen field is genuine power, and by acquiring a Criminal Justice degree, an individual can concentrate their interests and energies directly on the subject of criminal justice. When applying for a position within a selected area, many agencies or organizations, regardless of them being private, state, or federal, will give particular preference for those having a degree that is related to the actual interview position. This would consist of having an education in criminology, law enforcement, as well as the administration of justice to mention just a few specialty studies under the criminal justice title. These days, several of those similar agencies are making an earned college degree the minimum standard for employment.

Those graduating having a Criminal Justice degree have at their disposal a variety of career choices. It could possibly be as a police officer in law enforcement, as a paralegal inside the courtroom, as a federal agent with homeland security, as a correctional officer inside a prison, as a social worker within the community, or even laying the foundation of knowledge in criminal justice prior to attending a law school. For an individual that desires to go into the field of forensic science, where solving crime mysteries can be an obsession, a Criminal Justice degree may be that initial starting point for being familiar with investigative procedures and analytical thinking.

Far more often than not, a career within the criminal justice career requires a college level degree. Employers are utilizing the college diploma since the initial method of screening those applicants in their search for new personnel. A focused education with a Criminal Justice degree is actually a must have for all those pursuing a career in law enforcement, considering that not only are they much better prepared to take on the challenges of the career by way of education, nevertheless the earnings potential of the college degree is substantially higher in comparison with individuals with only a high school diploma or less.