CRIMINAL JUSTICE WEDDING CAKE

The criminal justice wedding cake was designed Samuel Walker to describe the process of criminal justice. The cakes consist of four layers. The first layer is where the most attention is received by the media or press. In the second layer most serious felonies or violent crimes are being made. The third layer is the part where no violence tends to take place for example drug-related cases are in this layer. In the fourth layer is where all the Misdemeanors are placed along with traffic violations. These cases in the fourth layer receive less attention from the media.

· Layer 1- Celebrated or National Cases
o In Milwaukee, police arrested a man who’s DNA has been linked to nine women’s bodies. Walter Ellis was recently charged with two counts of murder and he is expected to receive more charges in the near future.
· Layer 2 – Serious and Violent Crimes
o A six year old girl has been raped over a period of four years by a 34 year old male. The suspect receieves all but 60 days of his sentence suspended.
· Layer 3 – Drug-related Cases
o A 19 year old boy was arrested for possession of narcotics. Police were having a traffic patrol when the suspect drove off speeding. Once the suspect was stopped he then tried to hide the narcotics under his car.
· Layer 4 – Misdemeanors and Traffic Violations
o Theresa Carpenter was arrested on Saturday for a DUI. She took a breath test which exposed that .111% of alcohol was in her blood. For her punishment she was charged with a DUI and has to appear in the Vermont District Court.

The Vermont Department of Corrections administrate the corrections in the state of Vermont. The mission statement of the agency is "We support safe communities by providing leadership in crime prevention, repairing the harm done, addressing the needs of crime victims, ensuring offender accountability for criminal acts and managing the risk posed by offenders". The mission best fits the first layer. The Vermont Department of Public Safety is Vermont's largest law enforcement agency. The mission statement of the Vermont's Department of Public safety is to "promote the detection and prevention of crime, to participate in searches for lost and missing persons, and to assist in cases of statewide or local disasters or emergencies". "In order to carry out this purpose the Department is organized into four divisions, the Vermont State Police, Vermont Emergency Management, Criminal Justice Services, and Fire Safety". The mission statement has principles of the first and second layer. Finally, the Vermont Judiciary represents the judiciary branch of the state. The Vermont Judiciary "was established under the constitution to protect the rights of all Vermonters by providing equal access to courts and an opportunity for the merits of every legal dispute to be impartially heard and decided in a timely way". The judiciary branch of Vermont follows the third layer.

According to the federal statistics, (Perry 2006), the total justice system expenditure for 2006 of the state of Vermont were $294,990. The fund were spent more in police protection spending $135,961 (46.1%) .Police protection received the more amount when it came to spending for it to help the state and ensure the safety. The second highest was corrections with $101,311 (34.3%), while judicial spending totaled to $57,718 (19.6%). (thousands were the dollars used). One way the state of Vermont could reduce in every department is not spending on materials not needed. Another way is spending on the program who needs it more in order to help and protect the state. Finally, the last way it can reduce its spending is by focusing on a plan and ensure everything in writing to produce what each department will receive and not just throw the money away.

Links

Ramde, Dinesh (2009, September 5). Milwaukee police: DNA links man to 9 slain women. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=burlingtonfreepress&sParam=31548535.story
O'Reilly, Bill(Writer). (Thursday, January 19, 2006). Villains Surface in the Vermont Child Rape Case [Television series episode]. In The O'Reilly Factor. Vermont: Fox News.
(2009, September 6). Man arrested on narcotics charges. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from burlingtonpress.com Web site: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090906/NEWS02/909060318/-1/ARCHIVE
(2009, September 6). Williston woman faces DUI charges. Retrieved September 8, 2009, from Burlingtonfreepress.com Web site: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909060319

Tags

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  Vermont


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  Rape


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  Murder


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  DUI


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  Arrest