Basic Functions of Law in the Justice System
A law in the justice system is loosely defined as a body that contains rules of conduct or action whose prescriptions are conducted by the authority under control. Law is also characterized by having a binding force. It is also a set of rules that must be followed and obeyed by the citizens, failure to which they will bear legal consequences or sanctions.
Despite laws being formulated to protect the citizens’ liberties and fundamental rights, average citizens often find it hard to understand the legal system and the laws found therein readily. An unclearly defined set of laws often confuse many people regarding the boundaries between legal and illegal acts.
Many people do understand and accept the laws prohibiting criminal acts such as thievery, murder, financial misconduct, and physical harm but find it difficult to know how the laws of the justice system work in other sectors such as gambling or online gaming sites.
The following are some of the main functions of laws in the justice system.
Establishment of Standards
The law guides most of the least acceptable behaviors in society. We may refer to some activities as crimes just because the community (by using its legislative body) has decided that it will not tolerate such acts, especially if they result in any harm, injury, or damage to people and their properties.
For instance, a typical state law demands that any activity that inflicts physical harm to a person be treated as a crime without justification. The state law treats it as a crime of assault.
Maintenance of Order
Maintaining order, in most cases, is treated as an offshoot of standards establishment. Civil society must have some semblance of order that should be reflected in the law. This way, a law that is consistent with the guidelines within the community can be provided by enforcing a law. For instance, the laws of wildlife management in the 19th century were initially passed to conserve a game that was hunted to almost extinction. This type of law indicates how society values wildlife protection for the future generation’s enjoyment.
Resolving Disputes
It is challenging to avoid disputes in a society comprising people with different opinions, needs, and values. Some laws are specifically formulated to ensure that conflicts between people of a particular community are dealt with appropriately. The law also embraces various formal means of dispute resolution, especially by using the court system.
The Law Protects Liberty and Rights
Most countries have constitutions and statutes providing citizens with rights and liberties. However, at some points, these liberties and requests may be violated, or people, organizations, or the government can intrusion them unreasonably. The only way a country can reduce these violations and intrusions is by using laws. For instance, the first amendment to the constitution, subject to certain exceptions, should prohibit the government from formulating a law that hinders its citizens from freedom of speech and expression.
Final Thoughts
Laws in the justice system are vital for every country. They ensure that a country has well-established standards, proper maintenance of order, providing appropriate methods of solving disputes, and ensuring the protection of liberty and rights of the citizens.
