Defining the Criminal Justice System
Discussing such a complex and wide-ranging topic, which is strengths and weaknesses of the American justice system, it could be reasonable to explain duly the key definition “criminal justice system" at first. Generally, that is a system of practices and governmental institutions directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. In the United States, this system consists of three main parts “Legislative (laws), adjudication (courts), and corrections (jails, prisons, probation and parole)." With reference to many experts' words, there are many cases, in which that U.S. criminal justice system proves its competent functioning, but at the same time, there are numerous controversial cases, in which the system turns out to be totally helpless or fallible. For that reason, we can say and discuss its pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses.

Racial and Socioeconomic Bias
Let me start with weaknesses. Very first, but serious allegation that is made against the system, is the fact of its both racial and socio-economic bias. When it comes to treatment of non ‘white citizens, the discrimination is commonly described as massive and pervasive. Nationwide protests and demonstrations are of no avail and usually come to nought. Actually, we have recently had a great example of that “ a black teenager Michael Brown3 was fatally shot in an attempt of questionable self-defence by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. This is not an isolated case, and the main point is that racial bias occurs at every stage of the criminal justice process, from arrest to sentencing. Moreover “whereas black citizens are very often unfairly sentenced (racial disparities in sentencing are at least suspicious), a rich, respectable, and what is important “ white offender can easily get off by hiring best lawyers, barri...