Difference Between Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

There seems to be a fine line in the difference between criminal justice and law enforcement. When you think of either party, you probably imagine the state police, private investigators, and prison wardens--these are all people who either enforce the law or bring criminals to justice. But who fits into which category? Here is an explanation of the differences between the two terms.

The Criminal Justice System

Criminal justice is the study and/or application of laws regarding criminal behavior. The professionals who study criminal justice include: the police, professionals who work in a judiciary capacity, and lawyers who either prosecute or defend people who are accused of crime. Then there are the professionals who advocate for changes in the criminal justice system, like members of the Supreme Court. Border Patrol, Central Intelligence Agency, Detectives, and uniformed Police Officers: These are all examples of professionals in the Criminal Justice system. And it is important that there is justice involved, to keep true the name "criminal justice."

Types of Law Enforcement Personnel

"Law enforcement" collectively refers to the professionals who uphold and enforce the current laws and statutes. Besides enforcing laws, these professionals may also manage the punishment process for people who are convicted of crimes, and they even may manage the process of incarceration. Some of these professionals may work in a local setting, while others enforce national (federal) laws. Then there are two types of federal law enforcement agencies: uniformed law enforcement and investigative law enforcement. Uniformed officers generally work for agencies that specialize in safety and security. Investigative personnel are usually assigned to agencies that enforce specific sections of the United States Code: the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and more.

Comparing and Contrasting

Because "justice" is in the name, it is important that laws applied to people who are accused of crime should be fair. This means law enforcement professionals need to be educated in the rights of the accused and the laws that apply to them. These are the people who are entrusted to uphold the current laws--and this is just a small fraction of what is involved in criminal justice. Besides uniformed and investigative officers, there are many others who are involved in bringing criminals to justice, from paralegals to criminologists.

References

Federal Law Enforcement Jobs

ASPCA

Criminal Justice Schools