Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitationefforts. Those accused of crime have protections against abuse of investigatory and prosecution powers.

According to most theories of justice, it is over helmingly important: John Rawls claims that “Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought.”

Justice can be thought of as distinct from and more fundamental than benevolence, charity, mercy,generosity or compassion. Justice has traditionally been associated with concepts of fate, reincarnation or Divine Providence, i.e. with a life in accordance with the cosmic plan. The association of justice with fairness has thus been historically and culturally rare and is perhaps chiefly a modern innovation [in western societies].