American Justice System Essay, Research Paper
The justice system here in the United States is one that many people have a hard time understanding. It is a system that isn t easily accessible for the everyday person, even though that s exactly what it was suppose to be.The number one problem that I have with our legal system is the use of a jury. The idea of having a jury of your peers is one that seems fair and just from the outside, but in my opinion, is just the opposite. The truth of the matter is jurors are just ordinary people who are entrusted with the most valuable commodity in the world-another person s freedom, or in some cases, their life. It is human nature for people to have opinions and therefore, pre-conceived notions. I know that the juror screening process is supposed to weed out potential jurors with biases or other flaws but I see this as impossible. Appearance and presentation can be an overwhelming factor in a courtroom. If a person accused of something walks into a courtroom with messy hair and ripped clothes on, a person is more inclined to think of them as guilty than if they had walked in dressed in a suit and tie with their hair neatly combed. Most people will deny that this is true but it is an impossible act to deny. We make preconceptions all the time whether we realize it or not and just because someone has made it through the screening process and been selected as a juror, doesn t mean they don t do the same.
Another problem I have, although I don t see how it can be solved, is the beyond a reasonable doubt method used to determine guilt in a criminal case. I know that this is a means of protection for the accused but in some cases it just doesn t work. An example that everyone can relate to is the O.J. Simpson trial. I don t even need to get into specifics but I don t think it was possible to have connected Mr. Simpson with the crimes any more than the prosecutors did. Even afterwards, some of the jurors admitted that they thought he was guilty but voted not guilty anyway. This is justice? As I said, I really don t know how this could be improved but I think there has to be some kind of happy medium between beyond a reasonable doubt and more likely than not .
Up to this point I m sure I have come across as anti-American justice system but I definitely am not. I think the greatest part of our system is the fact that a person is innocent until proven guilty, although most people don t see it that way. An example is the Ray Lewis murder trial. Ray Lewis is a professional football player and his arrest on murder charges made the cover of every newspaper. Within days of his arrest, there were t.v. specials and articles about how football players have a hard time distinguishing between on and off the field situations and controlling their anger and every one had a picture of Ray Lewis next to it. As far as everyone was concerned, Ray Lewis and his friends were murderers and should be put away for life. Then a funny thing happened- Ray Lewis and his friends were tried and found not guilty. In fact, not only was he not guilty of murdering the two victims, eyewitnesses actually testified that he was trying to break up the melee which led to the murders. No matter what Lewis does the rest of his life, he will always be associated with murder. I don t think that media should be allowed to have any connection with any criminal cases until a verdict is reached.
This is the first time I have ever really sat down and thought about our legal system and what I like and dislike about it. I guess it is something that a lot of people take for
granted because it is accepted that that s the way it is and it will never change. I also think Americans are somewhat arrogant regarding our justice system judging by the best in the world label it has been given. I guess I really have mixed emotions about our system, although the flaws that I have mentioned make it one in which the odds are in favor of the accused. This can be a double-edged sword but I m sure if I ever end up on the other side of the fence, rather than looking at it from a future lawyers perspective, I will be thankful that it is the way that it is.
Другие работы по теме:
Justice In America Essay Research Paper Justice
Justice In America Essay, Research Paper Justice In America The early days of the court system in America was largely influenced by the Romans. American civil laws were brought about from the Roman Justinian Code, Which was developed in the sixth century A.D. It was brought to this country by the French, Spanish, and the Dutch, where it was modified so as to be useful and applicable to the situations encountered by early American settlers.
Justice Essay Research Paper The concept of
Justice Essay, Research Paper The concept of justness is a subjective reality. Justice is not present in any one person, justice appears to be present only in consensus. There is no just,
Racial Profiling Essay Research Paper Despite the
Racial Profiling Essay, Research Paper Despite the civil rights victories of 30 years ago, official racial prejudice is still reflected throughout the criminal justice system. For people of color in cities large and small across this nation, north and south, east and west, Jim Crow “justice” is alive and well.
Death Penalty 6 Essay Research Paper Death
Death Penalty 6 Essay, Research Paper Death Penalty In The “Death Penalty is a Step Back” by Coretta Scott King, she makes some very good and strong points opposing the death penalty. To bad all those points can be countered very easily with logical explanations. Yes, Mrs. King is right when she states that two wrongs don’t make a right, but in some cases besides math it does, and the death penalty is one of those cases.
Revolving Door Justice Essay Research Paper Revolving
Revolving Door Justice Essay, Research Paper Revolving Door Justice 1) Plea Bargaining is when a person may agree to lesser crime as to not clog up the jury system but when this can be made the accused will wait for a good deal. I think that this is a bad idea because it makes it seem like the justice system can be bought or bargained with and laws can be bent.
Crucible 3 Essay Research Paper Justice Systems
Crucible 3 Essay, Research Paper Justice Systems In The Puritan Societies Justice systems have changed greatly over the years. In the Puritan justice system, much has been improved. In 1692, in the town of Salem, many people lose their lives or are punished unfairly due to their justice system. Justice to Puritans really is not justice at all; it is a quick fix to a complicated problem.
Unfair Justice Essay Research Paper Unfair Justice
Unfair Justice Essay, Research Paper Unfair Justice? In spite of the horrible results the newly acquitted Mr. Elliot’s actions had, he didn’t do anything “wrong”. It is thisdilemma the U.K. have raged over the past few weeks after thejuvenile delinquent killed the father to three, Mr. Osbourne. Thereal problem here is that the people have felt deceived by theirown law, so what consequences are we now facing? No matter how unfair the acquitting of Mr.
Defining Racism And The Difficulties Of Proving
Discrimination Essay, Research Paper Defining Racism and the Difficulties of Proving Discrimination Our group is taking the position that the perception of the criminal justice system as being racist is a myth. Since this assertion can be interpreted in many ways, it is necessary to specify what it means and does not mean.
Criminal Justice Essay Research Paper In this
Criminal Justice Essay, Research Paper In this paper I will attempt to explain how the United States Criminal Justice System and Ireland has some different characteristics. They both share some of the same practices in each system. I will give a brief history of both countries and the way their system works.
Justice
& Fairness Essay, Research Paper Justice & Fairness When a person commits a crime, many people call for him to be brought to justice. To many people, it means punishment. If a person commits murder, some say he should be brought to justice by having to serve a long prison sentence or even face the death penalty.
Capital Punishment 12 Essay Research Paper Capital
Capital Punishment 12 Essay, Research Paper Capital punishment is the penalty of death for a crime. It has been part of the world’s criminal justice system since the time of Babylonia’s Hammurabic Code. The system of capital punishment is full of injustices and inequalities. All the arguements for the death penalty ared filled with holes.
No Equal Justice Essay Research Paper The
No Equal Justice Essay, Research Paper The American criminal-justice system, writes Georgetown law professor David Cole, has effectively become a two-tiered system, with differing levels of regard depending on the race or class of a given citizen who comes into contact with it. The thousands of African Americans who have been confronted by law-enforcement agents nationwide for “fitting the description” of alleged perpetrators would likely agree, but, according to Cole, it isn’t just the cops that operate this way; judges, prosecutors, juries, and legislators are equally at fault.
Juvenile Justice System Essay Research Paper The
Juvenile Justice System Essay, Research Paper The German playwright, Schiller, once said that in good drama every good character is right. In this paper, I am going to discuss Schiller’s comment with regard to Amanda Wingfield, Laura Wingfield, and Tom Wingfield.
Imbalance In The American Justice System Essay
, Research Paper Imbalance in the American Justice System The United States of America probably has the best justice system throughout the entire planet but; Is this true? There is corruption within this system, which causes it to be constitutionally imbalance.
Code Of Hammurabi Vs American Justice Essay
, Research Paper The Code of Hammurabi was a primitive and cruel justice system that relied on fear to keep the populace in line. Hammurabi claimed he was sent by a god to rule, so therefore, no one would question his authority. Religion alone was not enough to keep the people in line, so Hammurabi created a code of laws that would scare the people into obedience.
Upgrading Justice Essay Research Paper Taylor E
Upgrading Justice Essay, Research Paper Taylor E. Schuss English 205 31 August 2000 Upgrading Justice What is justice? By definition the word Justice can mean different things. To most Americans, justice is when someone who has committed a crime goes before a judge or a jury of his or her peers and is punished for their actions.
Plea Bargaining Essay Research Paper Plea bargainingWhen
Plea Bargaining Essay, Research Paper Plea bargaining When dealing with the Criminal Justice system plea bargaining is something that is a common occurrence. When some type of a negotiation between the prosecutor and the defense attorney takes place and there is no trial, this would be considered a plea bargain. (Criminal Justice, Pg.454) Although the defendant does loose some of his constitution rights by accepting it, he does have some benefits.
The Fight Theory And The American Legal
System Essay, Research Paper The aim of the legal profession is to seek out the truth and provide justice for those who were wronged. Lawyers represent clients who are on opposite sides of the case, and who most often have opposite views of the truth. In the legal system there exist two opposing views on the method of uncovering the truth.
Ethics In Criminal Justice
– Forgiveness Essay, Research Paper Ethics in Criminal Justice Forgiveness The issue to be discussed concerns the act of forgiving. Forgiveness can be shown in many different ways. The degree of forgiveness depends on one?s personal beliefs. There are many ethical systems that one can apply forgiveness to.
Criminal Justice Essay Research Paper The criminal
Criminal Justice Essay, Research Paper The criminal justice system has changed a lot since the good old days of the Wild West when pretty much anything was legal. Criminals were dealt with in any fashion the law enforcement saw fit. The science of catching criminals has evolved since these days. We are better at catching criminals than ever and we owe this advancement to forensic science.
Book Of Job Essay Research Paper The
Book Of Job Essay, Research Paper The Book of Job, including the epilogue, argues justice is retributive in its nature. Retributive justices states that a just distribution of fairness exists. Throughout the book, Job portrays the idea that good things happen to those who are good, while bad things happen to those who are bad.
Metric System Essay Research Paper Metric SystemThe
Metric System Essay, Research Paper Metric System The Metric System, also known as the System Internationale (SI) was developed in France in 1799. The Metric System was created because the French and English were not in agreement politically, therefore the French did not want anything to do with the English including their system of measurements.
Locke And The American Political System Essay
, Research Paper John Locke and his ideas about philosophy was a major influence on the American political system, not to mention many other political systems, too. His ideas were very
Overworked American Essay Research Paper American Political
Overworked American Essay, Research Paper American Political Culture Overworked American, Chapter 3 If I were to create an American society in which its occupants enjoyed more leisure and less work I would start from the beginning; the education system. In America?s current education system children are taught that leisure is bad.
Baseball Essay Research Paper Robinson Jackiefirst black
Baseball Essay, Research Paper Robinson, Jackie first black baseball player in the U.S. major leagues during the 20th century, an infielder and outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League from 1947 through 1956.
The Advantages Of American Educational System Essay
, Research Paper The Advantages of American Educational System Parents and the older generation Americans always complain about the educational system of the country. They assert that their children?s knowledge and skills are below average as compared to their counterparts in other countries. The American educational system is not inferior to other systems in any other way.