American Criminal Court System

...

The federal courts may also decide cases for which state courts are inappropriate or might be suspected of partiality. Thus, federal courts may decide controversies between two or more states; between a State and Citizens of another State; between Citizens of different States; or between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States ("United States Courts", 2015).

The Constitution provides the federal courts the power to hear cases involving the Constitution as a law, laws enacted by Congress, treaties, and laws relating to navigable waters (the ocean, the Great Lakes, and most rivers) and commerce on them ("United States Courts", 2015). Congress may determine that some of these cases also be tried in state courts, giving federal and state courts concurrent jurisdiction ("United States Courts", 2015). Congress has also decided that suits between citizens of different states may be heard in the federal courts, but only if the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000 and that maritime cases and suits against consuls may be tried only in the federal courts ("United States Courts", 2015).

State courts. Each state has its own court system. These courts are where most of the criminal cases take place. Each of the states also has its own set of criminal laws; the sentences for the different crimes can vary tremendously (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worrall, 2011). For instance, in some states, murder can carry a death sentence, and in other states the same crime would be a sentence of 20 years to life, with a possibility of parole. There is an appeal system within each state, but in addition, if there is a constitutional question, the case can also be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the final “say so” in the entire country’s court system (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worrall, 2011). When a state court decides a case involving federal law, it in a sense acts as a federal court, and its decisions on federal law may be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court ("United States Courts", 2015).

Conclusion

The criminal justice system in the United States serves three primary purposes; to investigate, prosecute and punish crimes (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worrall, 2011). In the state and federal courts there are two separate codes that guide the operation of the criminal justice system. These codes are “the codes of criminal law” and “the codes of criminal procedure.” A code of criminal law establishes what constitutes crimes in certain jurisdictions, and a code of criminal procedure establishes the manner in which an alleged criminal offender is prosecuted for a crime and sentenced to a punishment if convicted (Siegel, Schmalleger, & Worrall, 2011).

---------------------------------------------------------------

References

Siegel, L.J., Schmalleger, F., & Worrall, J.L. (2011). Courts and criminal justice in America. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

United States courts. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.uscourts.gov/