The United States criminal justice system has a court system that is modulated in different parts. The Supreme Court is the highest authoritative court in the United States and for cases to arrive at this court they must pass through a variety of courts and have a legitimate consequence toward the nation.
You also have state appellate and local courts that serve jurisdictions where criminal cases are initially held and decided by a jury or a judge. It is vital to understand that certain crimes like fraud can be tried in the criminal sections of the criminal justice system but there is also a civil justice system where parties seek civil relief for injustices that may or may not result from criminal activities. The civil courts another set of courts provide judgments over the civil cases. Judges decide if the plaintiffs claim of harm by the defendant is justified.
Criminal cases are heard in criminal courts where at the conclusion of the trial the defendant may receive sentences of incarceration or fines as a result of being convicted at the criminal trial.
In a civil court a person (plaintiff) pursues a civil action against another person (defendant) which may result from damages resulting from a criminal action of the defendant an accidental action by the defendant or a disagreement between the plaintiff and the defendant.
Please answer the following questions. As you answer each question you must provide support or evidence that will enhance and empirically prove your answers. Academic criminal justice articles or real-life criminal justice findings that are not found in journals or other academic sources must be used in supporting your answers. Please use APA style for all cited sources including your References page.
Judges have specific philosophical rationales and sentencing guidelines when providing a judgment over presented facts.