¶ … Defendants and Characteristics of Victims
The criminal justice system has a seemingly impossible task: balancing the rights of the accused with the rights of victims. Further complicating this delicate balance is the demand to recognize the potential impact of prejudice upon the decision-making of police, prosecutors, jurors, and even judges. Although defendants can be members of every class, race, or gender, defendants who are African-American have been historically discriminated against by the criminal justice system. The rising population of Latinos within America has also created challenges, given that Latinos often face linguistic difficulties and assumptions (founded or unfounded) that they are likely to be illegal immigrants.
Discrimination and prejudice is not only suffered by defendants, however. For many years, women who were involved in rape trials would be treated like criminals by defense attorneys, and interrogated about their sexual practices and demeanor. Victims who are older, white, male and more economically powerful often find it easier to have justice meted out in their favor.
Other factors that can prejudice the minds of juries are the slanted perspective offered by television shows, which portray a sensationalized view of crime, and do not acknowledge that a disproportionate number of sex crime offenders, for example, are male and rapists often know their victims and are not random, violent attackers. Critics even have suggested that aspects...
3. Given what you know about the operations of the criminal courts, is it accurate to call the criminal justice process an "open system"? Why? Yes, it is accurate to call the criminal justice process an open system. Criminal defendants have access to counsel, either private counsel or court-appointed counsel if a defendant is indigent, for every crucial part in the criminal justice process. In addition, the public has access to
victims and defendants rights extended by the Criminal Justice System. Followed by introduction is the comparison of both sides detailing the rights of victims and defendants by the Criminal Justice System. Conclusion given at the end shows that the Criminal Justice System has more rights to the defendants; however, rights for victims are also increasing in several states. It has been during the last two decades that the rights of
Does the criminal justice system discriminate? Provide support your position with reference to the various components of the process, and give an explanation for either why the system discriminates, or why it appears to discriminate. Yes, the criminal justice system discriminates. African-American males are overrepresented in every part of the criminal process, though there has been no good evidence to show that they actually engage in criminal behavior at rates
The subchapters tend to follow similar structures, with the punishment in each case being discussed at the very end. Chapter 10 refers to crimes against habitation, notably criminal acts such as burglary or arson. The conditions for a criminal act of this nature to occur are discussed, as well as the different statutes that regulate the legal framework for each of these situations and the punishments applicable. Important restrictions apply
Baker reviewed three landmark Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment and concluded that the death penalty is capriciously imposed on Black defendants and thus serves the extra-legal function of preserving majority group interests. He viewed discrimination in capital sentencing as deliberate and identified the primary reasons why Black defendants with white victims have been denied fairness in capital sentencing. These are prosecutorial discretion in the selective prosecution of capital
Criminal Justice Gaetz, S. (July 2004). Safe streets for whom? Homeless youth, social exclusion, and criminal victimization. Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice. This journal article reports the researcher's survey findings regarding the prevalence of victimization among street youths compared to domiciled youths. Gaetz defines the street youth operatively as "people up to the age of 24 who are 'absolutely periodically, or temporarily without shelter, as well as those who are
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