Amendments to United States Constitution

The 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution have the greatest impact upon the criminal justice system than any of the other admendments within the botht he federal and state judicial and law enforcement systems.

The 4th Amendment states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seiqures, shall not be violatged, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

The 5th Amendment states, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militias, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public us, without just compensation.”

The 6th Amendment states, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been preciously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation to be confronted with the witnesses against him to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.”

The 8th Amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

The 14th Amendment states, “Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”

Assignment

Prepare a written analysis of the impact of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and the 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution in processing offenders through the criminal justice system by listing your opinions of how these amendments have a daily impact upon the criminal justice system’s due process processing of an offender from the initial stages of the investigation to the sentencing after the trial. Due process is basically the process of the criminal justice system which protects the defendant’s and the victim’s rights. Be sure to back up your opinions with facts and research. Explain the concept of due process as applied to the U.S. Constitution. Include the following:

• What due process rights are contained in the U.S. Constitution? Give examples.
• What is procedural due process, and why does it exist?
• Do you think any of these rights should be revoked at any time? Which ones?
• What made you choose those?
• To what extent does procedural due process hinder or strengthen the criminal justice system?

  The 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution have the greatest impact upon the criminal justice system than any of the other admendments within the botht he federal and state judicial and law enforcement systems.

  The 4th Amendment states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seiqures, shall not be violatged, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

  The 5th Amendment states, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militias, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public us, without just compensation.”

  The 6th Amendment states, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been preciously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation to be confronted with the witnesses against him to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.”

  The 8th Amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

  The 14th Amendment states, “Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

  Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

  Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

  Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

  Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”

  Assignment

  Prepare a written analysis of the impact of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and the 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution in processing offenders through the criminal justice system by listing your opinions of how these amendments have a daily impact upon the criminal justice system’s due process processing of an offender from the initial stages of the investigation to the sentencing after the trial. Due process is basically the process of the criminal justice system which protects the defendant’s and the victim’s rights. Be sure to back up your opinions with facts and research. Explain the concept of due process as applied to the U.S. Constitution. Include the following:

  • What due process rights are contained in the U.S. Constitution? Give examples.
  • What is procedural due process, and why does it exist?
  • Do you think any of these rights should be revoked at any time? Which ones?
  • What made you choose those?
  • To what extent does procedural due process hinder or strengthen the criminal justice system?