Question

How may a person's social location influence how a person feels about the role of the criminal justice system?

Answer 1

A person's social location is his place or position in a society. More specifically, in a plethora of relationships, a person is socially located and adjusted. A person is socially located in a family, work-place, church, school, locality, state and country.

Social locations can empower or disempower a person. It is the social location, which determines whether a person can speak or has to stay silent and whether he will be heard or remain unheard. Nationality, race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, age, education, martial status and political view determine ones social location. The strength of a person's social location depends on factors like age, communication skills, education, knowledge about social issues, financial resources, ones contribution in society, etc.

Criminal justice is the provision of justice to those who have committed crimes. The criminal justice system is formed by a number of government agencies and institutions, who aim to identify law-breakers and punish them appropriately and adequately. The system is also responsible for the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing crimes and providing moral support to the victims.

The social location of a person influences his feelings about the role of the criminal justice system. A person with a strong and powerful social location, may guide, lead and strongly influences others in the society. His position may encourage him to frame laws or rules and regulations for the society. His social position may make him feel that the criminal justice system should be more active in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. He or she may believe in a criminal justice system, which is more ethical and moral, a system which has some standards of performance and efforts in their respective areas. In a family, the one who is the most educated may be the dictator of rules and regulations and may believe in an ethical and moral criminal justice system. President Donald Trump, with a strong and powerful social position, leads the United States of America and has beliefs about crimal justice system of his country.

A person with a weak social location is usually made to follow commands and given directions. He or she may have a lot of expectations from the criminal justice system to uplift his position in society. For example, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward people in India are eligible to apply and occupy reserved seats in colleges and universities. 'Reservation of seats' is an attempt by the government to uplift their class. This attempt is considered by the underpriviledged sections of the society to be fair and just.