Why is everyone so quick to judge people who have been convicted of a crime?

Question

Don't they know the only difference between them and alot of other people is they got caught. You would be surprised how many people do things they should be charged with they just haven't been caught. Not even by you.

Answer 1

Because they are closet Authoritarians that would never believe the government would allow a good person that's innocent to be convicted?

BTW, innocent men have received the death penalty and have otherwise died in jail.

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."
--James Madison, Federalist 62

Clearly the country has ignored Madison's words of wisdom and it is virtually impossible for anyone to know every law there is, much less those which they are actually subject to abide by. Yet the maxim of 'ignorance of the law is no excuse' still stands.

There are still laws on the books which rightly don't belong there (eg. some of the bedroom activities of consenting adults). There are countless victimless crime laws (excuse me, public order crime is the PC term now). The sad thing is that law enforcement puts more effort into 'public order' crime than it does crimes against people or property, even violent crimes.
Certainly people convicted of certain crimes (eg violence) should get little to no sympathy. However, certain other 'crimes' should be generally be excused, particularly where there was no harm done or the person has, if applicable, indeed changed their ways, so to speak.

Answer 2

Eventually anyone that does commit a crime will get caught.

I don't know who you hang out with, but there is no one I know that committed a crime.

However I do believe that one that has been convicted should be given a 2nd chance. Except for murderer, pedophiles, drug dealers and kidnaper's. The statistics on those people that commit such crimes always end up committing a crime again.

Truth to tell I think you should this whole subject much more seriously. They were not convicted for "stealing from the cookie jar"

Answer 3

The biggest reason is that people are distrusting. It's pretty much "forgive, but don't forget." I'm sure that there are ex-convicts that are definitely changed and want to be a "productive" part of society, but people instantly become distrusting when they find out that someone was an ex-convict (it doesn't matter what the crime is). Everyone deserves a second chance, but how many people actually give out that second chance?

Answer 4

So your logic is that because there are other people doing bad things, that we should look the other way when some people get caught doing those things. I'm sorry but I do not agree. I do believe that people should be given the chance to turn their lives around, however I think that it is appropriate to make assumptions based on previous convictions. I think that it is perfectly o.k. to restrict the access to children of someone who is convicted of child abuse, or to restrict the access to certain positions of authority if someone has been convicted of violent crimes.

Answer 5

you know what, i'm going to go ahead and agree with you. alot of people who have answered have been "quick to judge" your question as to mean most everyone commits major offenses and are just lucky enough to not get caught. some people have even extraoplated your question to mean, "don't punish only me because i got caught--there are a lot of other people doing the same thing who have not gotten caught and they're not being punished..."

remember, people, the definition of crime is not limited to violent crimes and grand theft...

my opinion...people answering your question aren't being wholely honest with themselves. we all have done something wrong--maybe not criminal in the sense that the society in which we live would consider the wrong-doing major felony...but really though, nobody is perfect (well, Perfect got nailed to a tree...)

and sometimes, yes, the only difference between a "regular joe-schmoe" and an ex-con is the ex-con was caught.

and yes, people like to say they give other people second chances...so much that they believe it up until they are faced with having to give a known ex-criminal a second chance...so really, of all the people that have mentioned that they don't know anyone that has committed a crime, they've NEVER had to face the issue of giving an ex-con a second chance since they don't know any in the first place to whom they would give a second chance...


i'm expecting several votes down for my religious reference and my minority view. don't disappoint me.

Answer 6

Because people know the country is based on a CONstitution and most likely they are. The only difference being what you said "They got caught"

Answer 7

You're wrong. People aren't quick to judge. You know there has never been any significant evidence that ANY person given the death penalty has ever been innocent in this country in real life? While it happens in fiction all the time, in reality, our system of checks and balances is extremely good. People, for example, the jury, understand that the evidence is what matters, not emotion.

The only time they are quick to judge is when the News judges for them.

Your argument, also, is extremely irregular. "A bunch of people murder other people, I just happened to get caught. That's unfair and I should be let off."

Answer 8

With this justice system and the societal mentality level, most of the true monsters are outside, not in prison. In other words, there are more real human beings in prison, than outside. The majority of the population is too dumb to see this. You are an exception.

Answer 9

Are you serious? When you are convicted of a crime, that most likely means you committeded it. Those who committ crimes aren't the most upright people in the world, simply because of the fact they committed a crime. Don't go out and do stupid things, and then expect to not pay the consequences for your actions. One of those consequences is the reactions of other people.

Answer 10

I think part of it is a general deference to authority. Too often you'll hear people say things such as "they wouldn't have arrested him if he wasn't guilty" and "the only ones who object to the government having access to your information are the ones who have something to hide" -- comments that reflect a belief in regimentation and control.

It also reflects a hidden fear; they must believe that only the guilty are arrested, charged, convicted...because if it isn't only the guilty, they themselves could be vulnerable.