Comparative Criminal Justice and The Global Panopticon

Comparative Criminal Justice and The Global Panopticon
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Comparative Criminal Justice and The Global Panopticon
I. Introduction
The rapid advancement of new technologies has significantly altered the way we live and interact with one another. The rise of the internet, social media, and smartphones have facilitated human connectivity and brought us closer as a global community. However, using these technologies has also raised concerns about their impact on human rights, particularly criminal justice (Godfrey, 2022). As criminal justice systems adapt to the new digital world, questions about the continued viability of cherished notions of individual rights and due process have been raised. For example, facial recognition technology and surveillance cameras have become commonplace in many countries, but at what cost to personal privacy and civil liberties? Furthermore, law enforcement agencies collection and storage of personal data has sparked debates about the appropriate limits on state surveillance.
The role of criminal justice in this new digital world is crucial, as it is tasked with upholding the law and ensuring public safety in an increasingly complex and interconnected society. At the same time, criminal justice systems must also navigate the challenges posed by new technologies, including the potential for increased surveillance and the erosion of individual rights (Harding & Cronin, 2022). This essay will explore the intersection of comparative criminal justice and the global panopticon, examining the impact of new technologies on policing and due process in different countries. Through this analysis, we will better understand how the administration of criminal justice interacts with these new technological developments, and whether they offer new opportunities for more effective law enforcement or threaten individual liberties and democratic values. The impact of new technologies on human connectivity and human rights in the criminal justice system is a complex and multifaceted issue. As we continue to grapple with the implications of these developments, it is important to carefully consider the trade-offs between security and privacy and work towards a balanced approach that upholds individual rights and the rule of law.
II. The Panopticon
The panopticon, first conceptualized by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century, is a design for a prison that allows for constant observation of inmates while keeping them isolated from one another. The panopticon consists of a central watchtower surrounded by cells, with the guards able to observe the prisoners from above without the prisoners being able to see the guards (Harding & Cronin, 2022). Michel Foucault, a French philosopher and social theorist, expanded on Bentham's concept of the panopticon in his book "Discipline and Punish", arguing that the panopticon was not just a physical prison design but a broader model for the exercise of power in modern society. According to Foucault, the panopticon represents a disciplinary mechanism that operates through surveillance, creating a constant sense of being watched that encourages conformity to social norms (Ko...