Court system

[samfloor]

What is the problem with court systems today? One local woman has 9 felony convictions since 2007 and has only been given probation. All drug and theft convictions. Several other felonies have been dropped. No wonder the same people re-offend.

[havasu]

It might have to do something with that "Jury of your peers" crap. Most of the juries I have seen lately are full of a bunch of dumb and dumbers!

[RiponredTJ]

That might have something to do with the jury selection process

[Sideways]

There is no such thing as "a jury of your peers". That is not in the Constitution and not a right. Doesn't exist. What is guaranteed by the Constitution is a "fair and impartial trial". But a jury of your peers? Sorry, no such thing.

[RiponredTJ]

Real problems can arise when fair and impartial trials always seem to favor the perpetrators instead of the victims.

[HiHood]

I think we tend to let people out too early and are too easy on certain types of violent criminals. A string of felons would lead me to believe that the clown (or clownette) probably ain't gonna be rehabilitating anytime soon.

[Sideways]

Originally Posted by RiponredTJ

Real problems can arise when fair and impartial trials always seem to favor the perpetrators instead of the victims.

Yeah, that kind of gets in the way of that"innocent until proven guilty" thing.

[MissMelissRoths03]

There are countless problems with the court system today. Sometimes serial criminals are given probation and sneak between the shadows avoiding prison because of the lack of room. It is frustrating but, until they reform the system, there isn't much we can do.

[Sideways]

Originally Posted by MissMelissRoths03

There are countless problems with the court system today. Sometimes serial criminals are given probation and sneak between the shadows avoiding prison because of the lack of room. It is frustrating but, until they reform the system, there isn't much we can do.

I agree that there are countless problems with the courts but not for the same reason. First, no state allows a person convicted of being a serial killer to be put on probation. Or, did you mean parole? There is a difference. If a "serial killer" is put on probation it is because they were not convicted of being a "serial killer". People are sent to prison for what they are convicted of doing, not what we think they did. If that were the case then there is a percentage of people in the world who probably should be in prison. Second, prisons are overcrowded. But that is more of a result of non-violent persons being sent to prison. Prison space will always be available for a convicted violent person.

[RiponredTJ]

You guys do seem to spend an inordinate amount of cash and resources punishing non-violent offenders with jail time.