The criminal justice system has evolved over the years into a complex and often confusing phenomenon. What applies to some does not always apply to all. The confusion over the way punishment is meted out is justified because no one can fully explain how the system works. Criminals for some reason have learned to maneuver through it with relative ease. Lawyers have also been able to assist some of their clients with unusual success. Why can't the average person figure it out? The criminal justice system is so convoluted because it was designed that way.
No, this is not a conspiracy theorist gone awry. If you step back and look at the bigger picture, some patterns will begin to materialize. It is no secret that law schools around the country are pumping out lawyers at an exaggerated pace. These young and starry eyed professionals are graduating and flooding the market. Not everyone will be able to land that high six figure job with a private law firm. Some will have to grunt it out and take positions in prosecutor's offices for minimal pay. Others will not utilize their degrees and opt to go into other fields. Then there are some who will do pro bono work and work for non-profit organizations. So what am I suggesting? Everyone who gets caught up in the criminal justice system will never have an equal opportunity to be represented. It all depends on your status in life. As eloquently stated by author, Jeffrey Reiman, " The rich get richer and the poor get prison."
Why does this system work in such a manner? Well, upon closer examination it becomes apparent that the criminal justice system is a business rather than an entity that looks for truth and justice. Accordingly, it is in the best interest of judges, lawyers, police officers, correction officers, probation officers, parole officers, social workers, psychologists. . . I hope you get the message, to maintain the status quo. Please do not misconstrue what is being said. Yes, some people are just inherently bad and need to be dealt with, but as a whole human behavior can be corrected. The systems that are put in place are by no means put there for rehabilitation. Re-entry is not paramount, however, recidivism is expected and wanted.
"Show that compassion has a new beginning by starting it today." Dr. BLR
This blog was created solely for my students to generate intellectual dialogue with their classmates. Reach one and teach one. Peace.
20 comments:
LETS GET A REALITY CHECK (NO HARD FEEELINGS PROFESSOR) WE ALL CAN AGREE AND DISAGREE ON WHETHER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT. THERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN DEAL WITH A CASE FOR EXAMPLE. YOU CAN EITHER FIGHT FOR THE DEFENDANT ALL THE WAY ESPECIALLY IF HE IS NOT GUILTY OR YOU CAN TURN YOUR BACK ON THE DEFENDANT PROSECUTE HIM BECAUSE YOUR OVER WORKED AND THATS ONE LESS CASE TO DEAL WITH. REGARDLESS IF YOU DONT AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT ABOVE IT HAS U THINKING NOW. ONCE AGAIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RATHER FIND THE EASY WAY OUT TO ANY PROBLEM THEN TO DEAL WITH IT FACE TO FACE. THE BEST EXAMPLE OF ALL WOULD BE THE ONLY REASON PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, DEFENSE TEAM, ETC ALL GIVE AND AGREE TO A PLEA BARGAIN IS LESS WORK AND ESPECIALLY IT IS A MONEY SAVER TO THE SYSTEM.
the system was programed so that the black comunities can not afford the aount of oney that is handed to the after their sentences. it is made to keep the people incarcarated so that the people in law enforcement to have a job and keep them occupied.little that people know is that you are a study to them during their elementary years in school. once you start a jail or prison record you belong to the system in the years coming.
our criminal justice is corrupted because of money... we must remember everyone goal in life is to have the american dream... which is now to become rich... i dont think its fair that the rich always get away from crimes because of their money... however, i cant blame them for using their money to their advantage... trust me if i had money i would by the best of the best lawyers too... wouldnt you??(0230)
"The rich get richer and the poor get prison" is an unfortunate reality. Their are a lot or criminals that avoided jail because the could afford to. And there are a lot of innocent people in prison that are there because they could not afford to prove their innosense. Its unfair...yes, but what can be done about it? Justice may be blind but she can sure tell if you have a little dough in ur pocket. (7885)
Money rules everything around me a wise man once said. A rich man with a reputation can find loop holes with his expensive lawyer while a kid from the ghetto's public defender is overloaded with work and only getting paid 200 dollars. As in many aspects of our country the rich have an advantage and must have strong evidence to convict. They can hire dream teams of lawyers that can miscue justice, and give their clinet a lesson. While in the hood life's are destroyed by our justice system sometimes if you are guilty or not. 9146
I Agree with you totally it is a business and that is what people fail to realize. If these occupantions didn't exist, (correction officers, Judges, Prosecutors, social workers, probation officers) then no one would have a job to attend. If NO ONE COMMITTED A CRIME there would be no sense in having an institution to place inmates.(There is always what you call the coherent offenders- those are the likely people who once are palced behind the prison wall are more likely to end up back in prison because of two things they are expose to the REAL WORLD ONCE REALEASE WITH NO TYPE OF DIRECTION OR HELP. THEN YOU LEAVE THEM FOR NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT TO GO BACK TO PRISON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET A JOB. EX-OFFENDERS ARE SO COMFORTABLE LIVING THE EVERYDAY LIFE ROUTINE OF BEING IN PRISON THAT BEING OUT IN THE REAL WORLD CAUSES THEM TO FEEL LIKE AN OUT CASTE. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY MANY INMATES FEEL THAT WAY. I CAN SEE IF THEY ARE TRYING NOT TO REIEVE THE HELP BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAS EVEN TAKEN AWAY THE RESOURCES FROM INSIDE THE PRISON HOW ARE THEY GOIGN TO LEARN HOW TO WRITE A RESUME WHEN THERE IS NO LIBRARY IN THE PRISON.){I HUESS YOU DON"T WANT THE MINORITY TO BECOME PIOUS OF THE WHITE SUPREMCY}If you don't mind me saying this THAT IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP BLACK HISPANICS< LATINO< under the AUTHORITY OF THOSE IN HIGHER POWER>. THey have there finger under our every move. It is very hard to see at first but why do you think they are building so many prisons. It is because if we keep the minority opppressed and give them no resources in their area, no employment and make it harder for them to apply themselves with the right information then we have suceeded in making the crimianl Justice system work. IT IS A GAME! LIKE CHARLES DARWIN SAID THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. So that leaves you with people who are under STRESS and under privilage to provide for themsleves. What happen next they end up using other ways to supply themselves with a living. The son might join the gang. The Father might sell the drugs and be off to prison. The daughter might become pregant. The mother is now left to defend on her own so she chosse to give up and restort to drinking because it soothes her agony. It all work out for the common good of the BUSINESS OF LAW. LIke you said some just need the help but who is really going to give it to them not the government,... thanks alot anyway. 1587
I don't know which way to put this, but our law system is so corrupt and screwed up that you don't know what to expect in any case may you be rich or poor. 6809
I agree. I observed court hearings and found them biased and discouraging because the purpose of the hearings were not to establish the defendants’ guilt or innocence. The main purpose was to move the docket. Also I saw how money could buy freedom because the attorneys find the loopholes in the system. It is a system with many flaws created by people who know nothing about the society in which they make the rules about.*2232
The system is just simply corrupted. Integrity, loyalty and respect has been lost in all aspect of the system. They do what they want and how they want to do it as long as they find it convenience. Everyone is not judge the same. You can have the same case scenario, two different criminals and the same judge and depending on the judge's personal judgement, both or either criminal might be at a great disadvantage. The law is not being followed in accordance to the constitution and it seems like those in power don't bother to care about it. # 5839
i dont't know author....why do I feel like the criminals know the criminal justice system better than the professionals? spc5294
In reality the criminal justice system today does not follow the rule of law because it has apparently become corrupted. If a individual has money they are let off or are charged with a lesser charge. A average joe charged with the same crime would be feel the full extent of the law. The CJ system most go through a reform period SPC 5936
I agree with what you said. Criminals, I mean lawyers, know the system well enough to let rich people slip by. The rest will suffer. The sad part is that there doesn't seem to be an end to this corruption. spc5965
The criminal justice system is going to stay corrupt because its a business. The criminal justice system is ran like a business. Criminal justice system should be ran different. I believe there should be different stages. One is the court system whether you are guilty or not. Two the correction facility should be used to rehabilate. Three once the ex-con is out there should be jobs he should be able to attain. Four the cops on the street shouldnt be so damn corrupt
ecc 3950
MYBE THEY ARE. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND LAWS. AND JUSTICE WILL FUNCTION CORRECTLY. NOW OTHER THAT THEY DONT LIKE TO DO THAT THATS WHEN THE OTHER JUSTICE APPEARS. SOMETIMES INNOCENTS ARE CHARGED OF CRIMES THAT THEY NEVER COMMIT AND THEY PAYING YEARS UNDER BARS BUT THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND HAVE A GROUP OF AGENTS PREPARE FOR THOSE SITUATIONS. 5794
Of coarse the rich and poor don't get the same treatment in the cj system or any other facet of life for that matter. IE Does your average Joe Six Pack get the same treatment as Briney Spears for committing the same crime? Of coarse not. If you have enough money you can get away with almost anything. Just ask O.J.
5576
Prof. our criminal justice is defintely corrupted because of money. We must remember everyone goal in life is to have the american dream, which is now to become rich. I really dont think its fair that the rich always get away from crimes because of their money. But I cant blame them for using their money to their advantage, trust me if i had money or should I say alot of us would by the best of the best lawyers too. SPC 6169
The system is unfair because, like everything else in this country, it revolves around money. No matter who you are or what you did if you have money you get much better representation than someone who does not. And the rich people are happy to keep it this way. SPC 3027
You are absolutely right, the whole criminal justice system is a big money marketing business. The poor will get prison and continue to return to prison if they are not receiving the help to reform and become productive members in society. (SPC-1739)
Darnell I strongly agree with Jeffrey Rieman, when he said the rich get richer and the poor get prison. Why is that people less fortunate than others are always the one's sentenced to prison when guilty of certain crimes. Whereas the rich people, because they are wealthy and able to afford good lawyers get a fair trial and leniant sentences. Which goes back to an old saying i've heard many of times and excuse my french " money talks and bullshit walks." Which makes perfectly good sense to me. How come poor people can't get a high paid lawyer to defend them? Instead they get appointed a state defender, who in all actuality don't give a damn about them.
Justice is no fear most of the time criminal who have money to paid a good lowyer avoid the justice or get a short sentence, and innocent paid long sentences 3580
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