What is your opinions on our justice system?

Question

Is it fair, and is our prison system actually working? What do you think of capital punishment here? How about comparing our ideas of justice here versus other countries?

Answer 1

Our system of justice is one of the best systems in the world. There are very few nation-states that go to such great lengths to protect the rights of there citizens. While there are many people on here who are quick to criticize, I think if you break it down into some of its key components, you begin to realize that it is a fantastic system.

Miranda Rights - "The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he has the right to remain silent, and that anything he says will be used against him in court; he must be clearly informed that he has the right to consult with an attorney and to have that attorney present during interrogation, and that, if he is indigent, an attorney will be provided at no cost to represent him."

Charges - Every person has the right to know what he/she is being charged with, and has the right to declare his guilt or innocence.

Right to an attorney - Every person who has been charged with a crime has the right to be represented by an attorney.

Right to a trail - Every person has the right to have his case heard before a judge and jury of his/her peers.

Right to an appeal - Every person who loses his/her case has the right to appeal the case. This insures that if there is any misconduct in the case, that the case can be re-examined for constitutionality to make sure that the defendants rights were not violated.

The question of capital punishment is different. Every study shows that the recitivism rate of criminals is outrageously high. We know that most criminals will commit further crimes. There are some studies that show that by treating criminals from a psychological position you can mitigate some of the recitivism. However, we should require that our criminals bare personal responsibility for their actions. I believe that you can exercise both capital punishment and treatment at the same time.

Most of the modern countries now base their systems of justice on the American system. That should tell you something about the quality of our system.

Answer 2

One of the worst problems with our justice system is with the death penalty. We are in very bad company on this- Only China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia executed more people than the United States did in 2006. Among the major developed democracies, only the United States, Japan and Korea practice the death penalty.


Here's are some facts that Americans need to look at-

It is not a deterrent- states with the death penalty have higher homicide rates than states that do not. People who commit murder do not think they will be caught, let alone punished, that is, if they think at all.

The death penalty costs much more than life sentences. Much of the extra cost comes before conviction, in fact even before trial. (In my opinion, we should spend the extra money for victims services where it is really needed.)

Life without parole is on the books in more and more states. It means what it says. It is no picnic to be locked up in a tiny cell for 23 of 24 hours a day.

Over 120 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. (In the overwhelming number of these cases, the evidence was not DNA. DNA is not a miracle cure for wrongful convictions). The exonerees had spent many years on death row before being found innocent. Speeding up the process would guarantee the execution of an innocent person. It is human nature to make mistakes.

Once someone is executed for a crime the case is closed. If the wrong person was convicted, the real killer is still out there.

Death sentences can be very hard on victims’ families. The process takes a long time and they are forced to relive their ordeal over and over again, in courts and in the media. Some murder victims’ family members have said that although they support the death penalty in theory, they do not want to see it in the case of their murdered loved one because of how the process affects families like theirs. Life without parole is swift and sure and rarely results in appeals.

Last of all, opposing the death penalty does not mean you excuse or coddle criminals who commit brutal and depraved acts. They must be punished severely. But we need to use common sense based on the facts, not to focus on revenge.

Answer 3

It is crap, aimed at the lower levels of society to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. Status of the person that commited the crime or was victimized determines the severity of penalty.
It doesn't work becuase too many of the worng people are getting imprisoned for petty things and made unable to make better for themselves, and in some cases, it is better than life on the outside.
Justice in this coutry means a slap on the wrist, in muslim countries, things like drug dealing can be punishable by death.

Answer 4

We have more people in jail than any other country in the world....our justice system doesn't work.

It needs an overhaul and if we start complaining maybe our legislatures will pay attention and do something.

We shouldn't have people getting out of jail before the doors are locked good to commit another crime that's even worse then the original crime.

Answer 5

The Justice system is effective but flawed. Releasing prisoners early may solve an overcrowding problem. But it does nothing to lower the crime rate.

Answer 6

Is it fair? No. You have people who serve 5 years for killing someone and then another person serving life for killing someone. You have a person who was found guilty and ran out of appeals and then come to find out after being in prison for 18 years a crime that he did not commit, he is found innocent through DNA. You have presidents, such as Nixon, who did a crime, yet was pardoned and would never have served any time. You have rapist who are let out to commit rape again and again. We have criminals who are let out and go back in, let out and go back in. We have the judges and lawyers who are corrupt to the core. I am not saying every one of them, but, there are those out there who are sleezy. One receives the death penalty and he waits 20 years until he dies by lethal injection. Then you have Saddam, who goes to court and is found guilty and hung in less than a month of finding him guilty. Russia doesn't play around either. Russia doesn't have the dumb system that we have where we have to pay for someone out of our taxes to sit in prison under the death penalty for 20 years. In Russia, you are guilty, they will shoot you. Same with China. These other countries do not play around. Yet, here is America. The wishy washy system. The corrupt system. The system that can really let you down. O.J. got away with it. The system let society down. However, countless other notorious killers and rapist have been served the guilty verdict. I believe in capitual punishment but not to wait for 20 years...for what? Why would I want to support someone's life in jail with my money when they have been given the death penalty?

Answer 7

It's a joke!!!
NO! it's not fair!!
NO! it's not working!
All for capital punishment!!
Our justice don't compare to other countries!!!

Answer 8

all depends,,can you aford a good lawyer,,25 million kill your wife and her boyfriend and get off,,,,,10 million kill the mother of your daughter and get off,,,,can't aford a good lawyer and the court gives you one ,,,,your going to the over full big house ,,a long ,long time,,,bubba's going to be your room mate,,,YIKES !!
other countries get caught stealing,,they cut that hand off,,get caught again,,you won't be picking your nose,,and in mexico,,your guilty until you prove yourself inocent,,,,cool right..

Answer 9

it needs to be a lot stricker
in the middleast they will cut your hands off for stealing
here it's a 2 hundred dollar fine
big deal

Answer 10

Extremely liberal & pathetic.