Network of agencies enforcing law and order?

• A. Criminal Investigation
• B. Legal Institutions
• C. Criminal Justice System
• D. Social Institutions

Answer: (C)

The network of agencies enforcing law and order is the criminal justice system. This term captures the coordinated framework where different bodies—such as police, courts, and corrections—work together to enforce laws, investigate crimes, prosecute offenders, adjudicate cases, and administer sentences or rehabilitation. It’s more than any single function; it’s the integrated system that turns laws into enforceable action and upholds due process.

A criminal investigation is just one activity within this system, focused on gathering evidence and identifying suspects. Legal institutions is a broader idea that can include laws, courts, and governing bodies, but it doesn’t by itself specify the full enforcement network. Social institutions refer to non-legal structures like families, schools, and communities, which are not the organized system responsible for enforcing law and order. So the best answer is the criminal justice system because it precisely describes the interconnected agencies and processes that enforce laws.