How just is our justice system?

[porphyrian]

Sure, it's one of the best in the world. Yet it still employs the death sentence, shows a bias against the poor and minorities and is now more than ever in bed with corporate interests. All things considered, what do you think of our justice system, and what can we do to improve it?

[Selatius]

1. It's not flawless, and sometimes it is unjust.

Judgeships have been bought and sold by the highest bidders, and I don't believe that practice has been completely ended. As a result, you have decisions made despite legal precedent and despite the interests of the people at large.

[porphyrian]

4. I'm disturbed by the racist and classist biases in sentencing.

These patterns are unacceptable if we are to claim justice is served. I think most people in the system are relatively good people, but these biases may now be institutionalized rather than the actions of any individual.

[Selatius]

9. I'm not saying the judicial system is completely rotton, but

I can't say for certain either that the judiciary is completely good either, all else being held equal.

Institutionalized bias is a problem, and I recognize it, but corruption is another issue altogether that I worry is festering in the darkness.

[porphyrian]

14. I didn't mean to dismiss corruption, either.

I mean, I'd rather go to court here than half of the countries in the world, but there's no denying it's problems.

[Selatius]

22. Oh yeah, I agree with you there.

It's certainly better than what you'd see in China or Saudi Arabia.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. The state level is one thing. Federal is another.

On the state level, for probate, civil, divorce, corporate, chancery, criminal, - courts do their very best, under tough circumstances, to do justice. That means protecting the innocent, protecting the rights of those accused, protecting kids and trying to do what is just.

On the federal level, I find that most of the judges (not appointed by Bush) are fair. As you go up, we have our doubts. The Supremes are the scariest of the bunch. But this is not new. In the late 30's our country dealt with their version of NeoConManIsm, too.

[porphyrian]

5. I think you're probably right there. - n/t

[porphyrian]

3. I believe that, like the government, the justice system should be free from...

...corporate influence, especially with regards to prisons. The trend of using prisoners as cheap (slave) labor by corporations is extremely dangerous in an environment where those same corporations hold sway over our legislators, who write the laws and their punishments, including mandatory minimum sentences.

[TahitiNut]

6. It treats every dollar equally.

:eyes:

[porphyrian]

10. How painfully true. - n/t

[Double T]

7. Our justice system was far from perfect, BUT nearly 6 years years ago.......

IT ENDED COMPLETELY.

[porphyrian]

12. There's certainly an argument to be made there. - n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Reminds of the old French Socialist anecdote.

An American is walking the streets of Paris when he sees a cop arrest an old, crippled, man for going through a trash bin looking for food.

The American is shocked. "How can you be so unjust as to arrest a poor man for taking food from a trash bin?"

The flic replies, "Ah, but monsieur, here in France we are very just! If a rich man was going through the trash looking for food, I would arrest him!"

Think it doesn't apply here?

Think of a guy making $20,000 a year with 3 kids getting stopped for speeding and fined $100. Think of a guy making $200,000 a year getting stopped for speeding and fined...$100.

For the 1st guy it's his rent. For the second it's lunch.

[porphyrian]

13. Yeah, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. - n/t

[sweetheart]

11. completely corrupt

Depending on what lawyers you can afford, your justice is entirely different than that of a poor person
left to underpaid public defenders. Judges are not empowered to make judgements, but are rather
harnessed to legislated minimum sentences and a mindset that punative treatment reduces recidivism.

Its one justice for the rich, another justice for the poor, and another justice for dark skinned people...
entirely corrupt and heinous, as evil as china.

[porphyrian]

15. I believe Amnesty International would agree. - n/t

[Broken_Hero]

16. I voted other...

If you are rich, got money and power...the Justice System is dandy most of the time...and you like it.

If you are one of the normal folk...the Justice System is a steam roller...and very unjust...

[porphyrian]

17. I think that may be the case. It sure seems that way. - n/t

[Broken_Hero]

18. In my limited experience

with the justice system, and how the courts are run...thats my take on it. I see the regular folk get screwed over...

I see the rich kids son, who kills someone, while driving drunk not even see jail time...

[porphyrian]

21. The best justice you can buy, apparently. - n/t

[leftofthedial]

19. if you are rich and can afford a high-ticket defense

it is unjustly lenient


if you are not rich and can afford only a basic defense

you are screwed

[porphyrian]

20. That seems to be the pattern. - n/t

[rucky]

23. Available to the highest bidder. n/t

[porphyrian]

24. It's so sad. - n/t