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7.1: Criminal Justice Funnel

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    69539

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    During the 1960s, the field of criminal justice experienced significant growth, prompting an increased need to clarify the intricacies of the criminal justice system. Packer’s “Two Models of the Criminal Process,” sought to better comprehend the dynamics of the criminal law process, emphasizing its importance in determining the appropriate or substantive use of criminal sanctions. These two models represent opposing value systems. The Crime Control Model prioritizes curtailing criminal behavior and conduct, whereas the Due Process Model emphasizes safeguarding individual rights and civil liberties, even for the accused (Packer, 1964).

    clipboard_e847d73337745efbb2bf6781fd2001e63.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): This diagram illustrates how the number of cases and individuals narrows at each stage of the criminal justice process, aiding in the comprehension and analysis of the criminal justice system. While this image does not precisely replicate any specific jurisdiction’s criminal justice system, it provides a general representation of felony case patterns.
    Photo Credit: Kadence C. Maier, CC BY 4.0

    As depicted in the figure above, for every 1,000 serious felonies committed, only half are ever reported to the police, with the remaining 500 serious felonies categorized as dark figures due to never being reported. Among the 500 reported felonies, only 100 arrests will be made as 400 cases remain unsolved. Out of these 100 arrests, 35 cases are diverted to the juvenile court, while the remaining 65 cases are sent to the prosecutor’s office to await consideration for prosecution. Among the 35 juvenile cases, 30 are either dismissed or placed on probation, and 5 juveniles are incarcerated. Regarding the 65 adult cases sent to the prosecutor’s office, 40 cases were accepted by the prosecutor and the other 25 were dropped. Out of the 40 prosecuted cases, 10 defendants either abscond or jump bail, leaving only 30 cases for the trial process. Among these, 27 cases end in a guilty plea, 2 results in a guilty verdict, and 1 concludes with an acquittal. Ultimately, for approximately every 1,000 serious felony crimes that transpire, only 20 adult offenders are incarcerated, and 9 are placed on probation.

    This page titled 7.1: Criminal Justice Funnel was last modified on Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:44:26 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Antoniette Aizon.