Name: Balagot Mariefe M.

Section: 2 - Juliet

1. Elaborate the Importance and Purpose of Criminal Justice System

The term ‘criminal justice system’ is used to describe laws, procedures, professionals,
authorities and institutions that apply to witnesses and victims/survivors, and to those alleged
as, accused of, or recognized as having committed a criminal offence, whether adults or
children. The criminal justice system can range from the first contact with the police to release
from custody after serving a prison or custodial sentence. Even after release from a prison or
custodial sentence there may be a period of probation or supervision during which the person is
still part of the criminal justice system. International human rights law requires states to
develop a separate criminal justice system for children (those under 18 years of age). This is
known as the justice system for children in conflict with the law (or juvenile justice system).

The purpose of the criminal justice system should therefore not be just to arrest,
prosecute and punish criminals. The system as a whole should have a greater purpose to
prevent crime and to create a peaceful, law-abiding society. Provide the accused person the
opportunity to be legally represented to be heard by an independent and impartial person or
persons to challenge the witness/evidence presented against them to appeal against any
finding.

2. Discuss the function of each Pillar of the Criminal Justice System

THE COMMUNITY - The community is also the greatest source of information about the
commission of a crime. It is from the community that most witnesses come, including victims
and whistleblowers.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT - They enforce the law by ensuring compliance therewith, conduct
investigations to uncover commissions of crimes and violations of laws, file criminal cases
before the prosecutor’s (fiscal’s) office (if the offender is not a government employee/official)
or the Office of the Ombudsman (if the offender is a government employee/official), and testify
in court if a criminal charge is lodged in Court by the prosecutor’s office or the Office of the
Ombudsman.

THE PROSECUTION - They conduct preliminary investigations (if the respondent was not caught
in the act of committing the crime) or inquest proceedings (if the respondent was caught in the
act of committing the crime) to determine whether or not there is probable cause (reasonable
ground) to prosecute the respondent in court. If they found probable cause, they lodge a
criminal charge against the respondent before the court. Otherwise, they dismiss the case.

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 THE COURTS - To this group belongs the Municipal Trial Courts (for crimes punishable by
imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years), the Shari’a Circuit Courts in the ARMM (for criminal
violations of the Muslim Code), the Regional Trial Courts (for crimes punishable by
imprisonment of more than six years, and appeals from the decisions of the Municipal Trial
Courts), the Sandiganbayan (for crimes committed by government officials with salary grade 27
and above regardless of the penalty prescribed for the offense charged, and appeals from the
decisions of the Regional Trial Court in criminal cases against government employees below
salary grade 27), the Court of Appeals (for appeals from the decisions of the Regional Trial
Courts in criminal cases against non-government people), and the Supreme Court (for appeals
from the decisions of the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan and automatic review of decisions of
the Regional Trial Courts and the Sandiganbayan where the penalty imposed is reclusion
perpetua or death).

CORRECTIONS - Our criminal justice being also a corrective one, the correction officials are
mandated to see to it that the convict is reformed and is able to re-integrate himself into the
community after serving his sentence.

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