1. Criminal Justice Wedding Cake:
Layer 1
• Celebrated
perpetrators
1
• Celebrated victims
• Type the media loves
• Cases that make
Supreme Court
precedents
2. Criminal Justice Wedding Cake:
Layer 2
• Serious felonies by
experienced offenders
• Violent crimes
2
• Property crimes with
high $ value
• Get full attention of
the CJ system
3. Criminal Justice Wedding Cake:
Layer 3
• First time offender less
serious offenses which may
be felonies
• Less serious personal injury
or low $ value
3
• Dealt with less seriously,
maybe probation
4. Criminal Justice Wedding Cake:
Layer 4
• Most misdemeanors
• Handled in assembly-line fashion
• Typical penalty is a small fine
• Having to go to court may
be the “real” punishment
4