Persuasive Essay On Justice

The American Criminal Justice System are sets of agencies and process made by the government to control crime and to penalize those who commit it. The justice system is different based one’s jurisdiction, meaning city, state, federal or tribal government or military installation. The Criminal System is divided into two main parts, the state and the federal. The state portion handles crimes within its state boundaries. The federal portion handles crime committed on Federal property or in two or more states (“Criminal Justice” 1). The American Criminal Justice System needs reform because of its emphasizes on incarceration punishment rather than Rehabilitation. Our justice system especially enforces punishment on blacks and Latinos resulting of overpopulation of prisons like Rikers Island for petty crimes. Also, another reform needed the juvenile cases. For example, juveniles who commit petty crimes shouldn’t be sent to adult prison and shouldn’t be near more dangerous and serious inmates.

Capital punishment is one of the most controversial topics in today’s world. Many people believe that it is morally wrong to have capital punishment as a sentence to a crime. People also do believe that it is morally permissible for a severe crime. Capital punishment is also known as the death penalty. It can be given as a sentence when somebody is convicted of an extremely violent crime. The biggest issue that can be seen with this is that somebody could be innocent and sentenced with the death penalty because of the nature of the crime that they have been accused of even if they didn’t commit it. I believe that there is a moral line between using the death penalty and using other forms of punishment.

When we think about prisons, jails, and courthouses, our minds are meant to draw a connection to cold, hard, justice and fair punishments for guilty and deserving parties. Yet, in our judicial and prison systems around the world, this idea is nowhere close to reality. From inhumane punishments, to mass incarceration, and “trapping” people in the system based on race or financial status, justice is far from being served.

Social justice is the fair and proper law that shows everybody is equal regardless of their color, race, gender, religion, etc. The thought of executing another human being is completely harsh! My whole life I have been thought that killing is wrong and that no human being has the right to kill another induvial. To my surprise, it’s what’s happening in our society every day. Giving the death penalty, has no justification. It’s another crime being committed, but this time by the government. The death penalty is usually given to a person that’s found guilty of a capital crime. However, it’s not easy to consider the death penalty as an easy way to punish the guilty. Though many people believe that the death penalty is the right way to punish people that has done hideous crimes, it’s possible to kill an innocent person, citizens pay million for the death penalty, and people of color are more likely to be given capital punishment. The death penalty is a violation of human rights and it should be abolished.

A police officer’s responsibility is to ensure the safety of the citizens in whichever state or country they are in by patrolling around areas and arresting individuals who are a danger to society. While there are many police officers that lead by example in complying with their duties, there are also many police officers that don’t and fall out of line with the law. When a police officer falls out of line with the law, it could be for many reasons such as robbery, murder, etc. Resulting from a lack of training, incompetence, poor decision making, racism, and greed. In the case of Sergeant Hugh Barry, who pertained to the police force for eight years, was charged on May 31st, 2017, with the murder of a woman who is said to have had a mental illness. Sergeant Barry and other officers had responded to a 911 call of a woman whose name is Deborah Danner. According to Al Baker, “Four officers and two paramedics arrived around 6 p.m. and Sergeant Barry arrived minutes later. The encounter ended with Sergeant Barry firing twice, fatally wounding Ms. Danner, who was in her bedroom” (Baker 1). A woman who was said to be displaying erratic behavior in a hallway of the building she resided in and it wasn’t the first time the police have been called as a complaint towards her. Rather than follow police protocol and wait for an emergency service unit, Baker states that he had not, “Mayor Bill de Blasio and the police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, said Sergeant Barry had not followed police protocol for dealing with people with mental illness. Specifically, he did not use his stun gun to try to subdue Ms. Danner, and he did not wait for a specialized Emergency Service Unit to arrive. (Baker 1). As a result of this, Barry was charged with “second-degree murder, first- and second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide and was suspended without pay” (Baker 1). Had Sergeant Barry followed the protocol that he was taught upon joining the police force, the woman who he murdered might still be alive. That is why this case is important in highlighting one of many reasons police officers could fall out of line with the law, especially in this event that led to murder because of reasons such as poor decision making

In New York, 2010, Kalief Browder was arrested for allegedly committing a robbery that he said he did not commit. However, he was still charged with robbery, grand larceny, and assault. The judge set bail at three thousand dollars, an amount that Browder’s family could not pay and unfortunately, he was sent to Rikers Island where he spent over a thousand days. He was assaulted by officers, inmates, and was also constantly sent to solitary confinement for nearly two years during his time at Rikers Island (Gonnerman, 2014). Kalief Browder attempted suicide many times when he was in solitary confinement. After being released, he tried to get back on his feet within society. His case was heard by many people, including Barack Obama, Jay Z, and other well-known individuals. All of them spoke about the injustice Browder faced. However, on June 06, 2015, Browder committed suicide (Gonnerman, 2015). Many people believed that the criminal justice system failed Browder. Unfortunately, this is not the only case in which the outcome was heartbreaking.

Criminal justice has garnered massive national attention in the past few years in America. Multiple police shootings, the Black Lives Matter movement, and other hot-button issues have occupied the media on a daily basis. This attention has led many Americans to question the integrity and efficacy of the government institution that was designed to uphold the law and seek justice for its people. However, this system is severely damaged and its definition of justice has been perverted and contorted beyond recognition, resulting in unfair and discriminatory treatment of the people it has been sworn to protect.

One would be hard pressed to argue that the criminal justice system in America is perfect. Everyday, countless headlines can be seen nationwide about some perceived injustice within the courts. Our criminal justice system is no different than our society wherein special people get special consideration, men and women are held to different standards, and so forth and so on. As an American, I have accepted these facts of life. I am a father of two boys, a varsity baseball coach and a police veteran of 17 years. In my experience as a father, coach and police veteran, I have seen and heard it all.

Bail is a set amount that is pledged or deposited to the court to get an accused person released from jail temporarily, allowed to continue his/her daily activity out of custody, with the understanding that the suspect will return for his/her trial and make the required court appearances.

In the State of California, you are qualified to be a juror if you are a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, understand English, a resident of the country, have not served on a jury previously in the last 12 months, are not on a grand jury or other trial jury, are not under a conservatorship.

Dr. Seuss addresses various social issues through his children’s books. Horton Hears a Who, published in 1954, targets discrimination against minorities. The Sneetches, published in 1961, takes aim at racism. In the story, Plain-Belly Sneetches are discriminated against because they lack a star, which signifies higher social status in their Sneetch community. Unfortunately, Seuss’ children’s story parallels contemporary society. Recently, children in the United States have experienced horrible mistreatment by law enforcement. In order to subdue misbehaving elementary school students, campus security guards and the police, who tend to be white in most cases, resort to extreme measures like handcuffs. Disabled African American children are often subjected to such abuse. They receive more severe, traumatizing punishments based on their skin color; they do cause disturbances and should face the consequences of their actions, but such force should not be used. Although these children can and should be handled in a less humiliating fashion, law enforcement accepts criminal punishments as a reasonable way to restrain African American children because their skin color makes them less than human and a greater threat.

Imagine you are a teen walking down the street with a friend. Now imagine being surrounded by police and getting searched for something that is not there. Since the item in question can not be placed the accuser changes their story; After multiple versions of what allegedly happened the police arrest you and your friend. Due to having a history of theft, a judge charges you with second degree robbery, even though there is no evidence to prove any wrong doing. Thinking the justice system will come through, and knowing your innocence, a trial is requested. Bail is set and cannot be paid due to economic hardship. Another consequence of not having money for bail, is there is also no money for a private attorney. A public defender, who has to many cases to keep straight, is assigned to help defend in court, yet he is trying to lessen his load and recommends several times that a plea deal is the best option that should be taken, even in the case of innocence. Picture holding out hope that if the case could just go to trial all would come to light. Four years pass by, mostly spent in solitary confinement, where the harsh circumstances begin to take a toll, mentally and physically. Imagine conditions so horrible, death seems better than enduring another day. Now picture the day for “justice” is finally here. No sooner does court get started it ends. The case gets thrown out due to the person who started all of this not being present. All the suffering that has been endured,

The term justice is used in some of America's most treasured and valued documents, from the Pledge of Allegiance, to the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. Everyone wants to be treated justly whether it's in the courtroom or the local bar. Most people would feel confident giving a definition for justice, but would it be a definition we could universally agree to? Given that justice is a very common term, and something we all want, it's important to have a precise definition. For hundreds of years philosophers have argued, debated, and fought over this topic. Justice can clearly be defined as the intention to conform to truth and fairness. This is true justice.

Oftentimes, the definition of social justice can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. The true definition of social justice is often structured by governmental implications but is the fair and proper administration of laws to each individual conforming to the natural law. Equality is supposed to be equally distributed amongst individuals nationally, but can sometimes be taken advantage of and be taken away from people who deserve it the most. Generally, those who view social justices as a right, also value people above profits.

“Americans have always had ambivalent feelings about crime and punishment” (71). Many say our American System of Justice is broken, for they believe the system is looking to just punish those who have done wrong and is not looking to rehabilitate them, especially for juveniles. Then there are some who say, the American System of Justice does not need to change for it already punishes criminals with due process, and rehabilitates them. The American System of Justice should change the way they punish criminals, because those who are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes are taking up space in our prison system, juveniles are being put in solitary confinement and coming out more damaged than they were, and lastly some offenders are serving to long for the crime they committed.