Role of Government in Ensuring Citizen Security

Question:

Write an essay about the issues in Criminal Justice.
 

The government of the States plays a greater role in ensuring that the citizens live a peaceful life. The security is heightened to make sure that the people are protected from crimes and other terrorist activities in every location. On the other hand, the authorities do their best to make sure that the illegal activities are not carried out by the individuals. The law is enforced by the security officials and other government agencies. It is the duty of the citizens to ensure that they follow the stipulated laws by the government for a smooth running. The government should also address the grievances of the citizens. The abuse of drugs or selling the illegal drugs is highly prohibited as it complicates the health of the individuals. The criminal activities are dealt with, and the individuals incarcerated to set an example to the others. The court of law ensures that the people follow the legislation that is outlined. The discussion describes various issues in criminal justice. 

There was a wrongful conviction of Farah Jama for rape at the federal court due to a miscarriage of justice required. He was a young Somali man who had been involved in any crime activity in his life and the evidence against was unreliable. It was alleged he had raped a woman aged forty-eight years in a particular club. The DNA evidence was presented at the court of law, and it was not that of Farah Jama. The security officials had faked it to ensure that the individual gets imprisoned due to the case and the perpetrators set free. The circumstances of the prosecution of the person raised various significant questions regarding the criminal justice system in the areas that involve the scientific expertise. The testing of the DNA results should be done in an appropriate manner without any interference. The professionals taking part in the checking the DNA match in various cases should be done without any alteration or favor of any person. Farah Jama was later imprisoned for fifteen months as he was still innocent. The family of Jama was put under stress and anxiety as the case proceeded through several stages. The individual who was claiming was raped had been made to believe so by other persons. It was clear that nothing had happened to her after a long discussion about the events that occurred. The case against Farah had been based on a single particular piece of evidence that been collected during the forensic medical examination and were later discovered to be contaminated (Burns, 2009).

The report most significant findings include the conviction of the innocent persons due to the presentation of fake evidence at the court of law. It was led by the contamination of the DNA results as the experts stated and it was not clear how Farah Jama was present in the forensic department. The problem is highly common nowadays where the innocent persons end up getting imprisoned for the crimes they never committed. The use of the DNA helps identify the criminals in various cases. Moreover, it can be used the wrong way when the results are contaminated, and they give false information. There should be accuracy in the results without any favor of any person who may have committed the criminal offense. The public requires that the correct procedures are followed in the identification of the DNA of the offenders. It will ensure that the innocent persons do not get prosecuted for the mistakes they have not committed. The professionals at the forensic should ensure the correct handling of the tests they carry out to ensure they come up with better conclusions. The individuals should follow the codes of conduct that are stipulated and remain ethical in their profession. The persons learn that not all the persons convicted may have committed the offenses. However, such problems regarding the DNA have been addressed, and the individuals who contaminate the tests lose their jobs or are put on probation (Eskridge, 2004).

Wrongful Conviction: The Case of Farah Jama

In addition to that, there was also the police involvement in the illegal drug trade by the members of the Drug Squad. The Ceja Task Force had the responsibility of ensuring that the people follow the stipulated laws by the state. It has made an important step in policing in the state of Victoria and fight against corruption. However, the Drug Squad members were corrupt in their service to the nation and led to most of them being imprisoned. They were engaging in the selling of the drugs instead of participating in ensuring that no illegal drugs were being produced and sold. Moreover, the Ceja managed to prosecute and charge several civilians on drug-related offenses. The Ceja Task Force was established to investigate the unauthorized purchase of the chemicals by the members of the Victoria Police. It was also to make investigations regarding the delivery and supply of the chemicals by the police force. It was also to determine whether the allegations of theft or fabrication of evidence was true. It had to be transparent to the public on the issues regarding the police corruption in Victoria. The Drug Squad was formed to ensure the high level of investigations regarding the individuals who took part in the large-scale drug trafficking. It also had to track down the drug offenders and provides their expert research assistance that involved the drug laboratories. It was noted that the members of the Drug Squad who were working at the Chemical Diversion Desk had been making unauthorized purchases of chemicals and other drugs from the pharmaceutical companies. They sold them to the drug dealers for their benefit and later some had started their private chemical company to facilitate the process (Neumann, 2002).

The report outlines the corruption issues in the police force, and they are supposed to be relied on by the people. It is the duty of the police officials to ensure that the illegal trafficking of drugs is dealt with and the concerned persons imprisoned for violating the law. However, it is very common that the police force engages in the corruption matters for their benefit. It is because the sale of the drugs has a lot of cash and is an easy to get rich. They use their powers to cover up various drug scandals and then later resell the drugs. They also change the obtained evidence from the crime scenes and substitute it with other elements. The drugs are then sold to the vendors at a lower price so that they can get the cash. Moreover, there is also the interference with chemical deliveries process that is used to know the individuals are engaging in the drug deals. The assigned police officers to the task also make an unauthorized purchase of the chemicals so that they can utilize them in the production of the drugs and later sell them. The persons never adhered to the code of conduct that had been stipulated for them to follow. There should also be surveillance on the individuals investigating the drug matters. In other areas, the convicts were charged and lost their jobs for not being loyal to the government and misuse of their powers (Dammer & Albanese, 2011). 

Importance of Accurate DNA Evidence and Ethical Conduct in Forensic Investigations

There is a serious problem in the criminal justice system and also the police force that need to be rectified. The court of law should have the substantial evidence so as to make conclusions about a particular case. It will ensure that the individuals who have been arraigned before the tribunal are judged in the correct way. On the other hand, the forensic department that deals with the DNA testing should work diligently without any favor. The analyzing of the results should be done in the correct procedure to ensure there is no contamination. The contaminated results lead to the prosecution of the innocent persons at the court of law. The characters later serve many years of incarceration without anyone recognizing the truth of the matter. It is very painful for one to become a mistaken identity and serve years in prison for an offense that one never committed. The use of the DNA to solve various crimes is very useful as it is a proper method to identify the criminals who took part in the act. The individuals that are to be trusted with DNA testing should have the level of education and expertise required to perform such an action. Moreover, they should be qualified and have the experience in various cases. In addition to that, the government should provide the required facilities that will enable generate the accurate results. The machines should also be maintained from time to time to enhance their effectiveness (Geis et al, 2001).

However, only the authorized personnel should be allowed in a DNA testing room. The CCTV cameras should also be installed to ensure that the activities in the area are monitored all the time in the chamber. It will make sure that no individuals with bad intentions to contaminate the results will get the chance to do so. The doors should also be protected with encryption that only allows a person’s fingerprints or eye recognition systems to access. The security of the area is vital to that no unwanted persons make any changes or steal the evidence. The components to be utilized to test the DNA of the individuals should also be kept in a secure place so that it cannot be contaminated so as to provide accurate results. The experts should also maintain their ethical standards and not act for any individual. They should not accept any bribery to alter the results as it is not professional (Acker & Malatesta, 2013).

On the other hand, the police force should be reformed to ensure that the officials do not engage in any corruption matters. They should do their assigned duties and help solve the crime issues in the state that are affecting the people. The individuals taking part in the Drug Squad should act professionally and not engage in the drug deals. The public has noticed that most of the officers are drug dealers instead of performing their tasks of enforcing the law. The corrupt persons should be prosecuted and imprisoned for their mistakes for violating the law and lack of being competent at work. The government should ensure that the individuals are monitored as they carry out their duties to ensure they follow the rules. Moreover, the officers to be appointed to handle such cases should be loyal and show commitment to their work. They should also be honest with all the events they encounter while on duty. The corrupt officials should be sacked and new ones appointed to run the investigations. The seized evidence of the drugs at various scenes should be locked in the safe areas to ensure that no one can access the area unless authorized. It will minimize the cases of it being stolen and substituted with other elements by the corrupt persons. The police force directors should also appoint the individuals who they trust and have been carrying out their duties as instructed to investigate the drug deals. They should also be educated on how to maintain the ethical standards while on duty (Smith et al, 2005). 

I would recommend that the criminal justice system performs their responsibilities diligently without any favor or coercion from any person. On the other hand, the DNA testing should be done by the experienced experts in the field. The contamination of the results should be highly prohibited as it will fabricate the evidence required. There should also be substantial evidence regarding a particular case for the judges to make their conclusion. The police force should also carry out their duties and responsibilities in the correct way. They should be scrutinized to ascertain their ethics to be assigned various tasks. A body should also be formed to monitor the activities of the police force to ensure they act accordingly. It will make sure that the persons perform their tasks as required. The ones that violate the law should be prosecuted at the court of law and imprisoned to set an example to the others.  

References

American Society of Criminology., Frost, N., Freilich, J. D., & Clear, T. R.  

Acker, J. R., & Malatesta, J. A. M. 2013. Introduction to law and criminal justice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Burns, R. G. 2009. Critical issues in criminal justice. Upper Saddle River, 

Dammer, H. R., & Albanese, J. S. 2011. Comparative criminal justice systems. Australia:                          

Eskridge, C. W. 2004. Criminal Justice: Concepts and issues: an anthology. Los Angeles,                          

Free, M. D. 2003. Racial issues in criminal justice: The case of African Americans. Westport,                        

Geis, G. L., Pontell, H. N., & Shichor, D. 2001. Contemporary issues in crime and criminal justice: Essays in Honor of Gilbert Geis. Upper Saddle River, NJ [u.a.: Prentice Hall.