I have been asked to give my opion on a modification on the Sixth Amendment to suit in the modern world. I have just started this course in Criminal Justice, and for the sake of me, I can not think of anything. Please try to guide me in the right direction.
2007-02-20 07:02:27 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The Sixth Amendment (of the US Constitution, for the sake of clarification) relates to criminal rights. To wit;
"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."
In recent times, witness tampering has become the order of the day for even petty criminals. Perhaps the best modification should apply to that aspect. Consider, for example, the addition of federal penalty for such infraction.
Obviously, the details of the law would still need clarification at the state levels.
2007-02-20 07:14:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there can be any improvement to that Amendment. If anyone claims to be "improving" something in the Constitution, it is almost always to take rights away from the people. If you have been asked to give your opinion on a modification of the Sixth Amendment, be sure to note all the individual rights that will be lost in its implementation.
Oh yes . . . you could add something against witness tampering/intimidation, but that is already against the law. It's just another form of harassment. I'm sure the founders were aware that such things could be done when they left that out of the Sixth Amendment. Have a nice day!
2007-02-20 07:18:52 · answer #2 · answered by anonymous 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very hard to improve on perfection. The 6th amendment is proof of that.
2007-02-20 07:06:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Whatever we do, we'd better not let the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay read the 6th Amendment.
2007-02-20 07:17:06 · answer #4 · answered by tartu2222 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You could always argue for Public Trials, since not all trials are public.
2007-02-20 07:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋