Even though I'm a computer science major, I've always been interested in criminal justice.

I even

considered becoming a lawyer; it always interested me as African Americans have always been

at the mercy of a broken system that never protected us. But I found a love for computer science,

so I diverted my interest but always made sure to know at least some of the basics of criminal

justice to protect myself. I will confess that I am only taking this class because I was told I need

it for a cybersecurity minor. Now I can pursue my interest in computer science while also going

through an intro Criminal Justice class to learn so new stuff about our Criminal Justice System.

When I think of the Criminal Justice System, I think of courts, jails, law enforcement, and

Lawyers. I know there are various courts ranging from the family relations court to the federal

supreme court. The way most cases get to the supreme court is through appeals which is where if

the person accused feels they were misjudged or their case wasn't treated fairly, they can appeal

the case to a new court with a new judge, and this can go all the way up to the Federal Supreme

Court. Along with courts, I know that there are also different levels of jail, ranging from Juvenile

jail to Maximum security prisons. To my understanding, it is possible to move your way through

these prisons just like if you were to appeal to higher courts. But in this case, you work your way

through the prisons by committing worse and worse crimes that then get you sentenced to more

and more time. When it comes to law enforcement, I know there are multiple parts to law

enforcement that range from parole officers to FBI and CIA agents. While higher levels of law

enforcement deal with more significant cases and things that present more of a threat to the

United States, while lower levels of law enforcement deal with the day-to-day crimes committed.

Along with local law enforcement dealing with the day-to-day crimes, they are also seen as the

ones you don't trust; especially as African American men, we are taught to see law enforcement
as people not to trust and threaten us. Overall this is the basic knowledge I have of the U.S.

criminal justice system, and I hope to learn more and expand my knowledge of the stuff I already

Know.