The author describes how people are easily condemned in our justice system and how we allow fear and anger to control our perceptions and actions towards others. Stevenson is an attorney who runs a project called “The Equal Justice Initiative”,
Is it better to assume a man is guilty based on stereotypes and prejudice? Evidence must be substantial and confessions must never be forced or excessive. All evidence must be legally obtained, but sometimes things don’t happen the way they are supposed to. For in May of 1993, unspeakable acts rocked the community of West Memphis, Arkansas. Three boys would go on an innocent bike ride and never return, and three older boys were blamed.
The American criminal justice system, although normally adept, still has its flaws. In Sarah Koenig’s podcast Serial, she examines a case from 1999 in which a teenage boy, Adnan Syed, was charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. The podcast, which brought attention to the flaws within the case presented, caused many listeners to question the validity of the verdict. There has been speculation across a wide variety of sources, and many feel as though Adnan Syed deserves an appeal. However, because there was enough evidence to convict Syed during the original case, there are those who believe the verdict should stand.
Framing Truths How do we know what is true? How do we know if a man sentenced to death was truly a murderer? A question echoed by thousands of people revolting against the death penalty as the story of Todd Willingham made it to the headlines. In The New Yorker, under the title of Trial by Fire, came the terrifying enigma: “Did Texas execute an innocent man?” followed by a thorough listing of the evidence that was used to convict Willingham of setting his house on fire and resulting in the death of his three children, and how they were later disproved. There is a great misconception about the source of controversy in issues like these.
On a daily basis in the courtrooms across the world a person’s life is being determined to be set free, incarcerated for years, life or sometimes even sentenced to the death penalty. Not everyone receives fair justice, Some are unfairly punished for a crime they have never even committed, innocent people are put in jails just because of their gender, ethnicity, race, or even personal beliefs. In her book Devil's Knot The True Story of the West Memphis Three, Mara Leveritt describes actual details how the three children of West Memphis, Arkansas went missing and a day later were found brutally murdered near a canal. In her book Leveritt describes how brutal physical damages that were done to the children, the possible “evidence” that was found
Christianity, often linked with innate goodness and charity, defends men who continue to rape, abuse, and commit other sins. This reveals the paradox of the situation. As man becomes more and more reliant on this manpower for their luxuries, they turn to methods such as praying for salvation. “The religion of the south is a mere covering for the most covering crimes...strongest protection” (67) expresses the power of religion as a driving force of evil instead of good. The 19th century plantation owner prays to prove his devotion, which excuses him for his irreligious
On average, five percent of the American population is wrongfully convicted each year; that's an average of two people per day (evidence). While there are fewer innocent people put in jail than guilty people, how would you feel if you were a part of that five percent? Rhetorical Question - What is a Rhetorical Question? Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose is a play regarding the trial of a 19-year-old boy thought to be guilty for the murder of his father, but thanks to the jury carefully deliberating the case, the jury came to the unanimous decision of “not guilty.” Some of the most significant arguments in this case regarded a witness's eyeglasses and the direction of the stab wound, but these were both countered and concluded as even more reasonable
These two’s stories will be compared and contrasted to prove the point that, speaking out against injustice is absolutely necessary because millions of innocent lives were lost, millions of innocent people were torchered and many, likely the majority of people didn’t speak out, and did not fight back, letting the oppressors run rampant and do whatever they pleased.
Unreasonable evidence is used and justice is not served, but injustice
In The Eyes are Watching God, the author Zora Neale Hurston expresses the struggles of women and black societies of the time period. When Hurston published the book, communities were segregated and black communities were full of stereotypes from the outside world. Janie, who represents the main protagonist and hero, explores these communities on her journey in the novel. Janie shows the ideals of feminism, love, and heroism in her rough life in The Eyes. Janie, as the hero of the novel, shows the heroic qualities of determination, empathy, and bravery.
That is the moral ambiguity surrounding the defense of an individual who may be guilty of committing a crime. This paper discusses the ethical dilemma of providing legal representation to clients whose behavior may contradict morality and societal norms, based on my internship experience. Despite this ethical predicament, I will shed light on the importance of legal representation and the significance of attorney-client privilege and due process. During my time shadowing my attorney, two instances arose that made me question the ethical implications of defending an individual who may be guilty of a crime. Without disclosing personal information, I will refer to the defendant as A and the victim as B. The first instance that I experienced was related to an evidentiary hearing, which is a legal proceeding where evidence and legal arguments are presented to a judge for a decision on a disputed issue.
We must go and overthrow the court, he says!’” (Miller 119). Miller gives insight into how the accusations around 1950-1954 may have also included the pressure of higher authority forcing someone (of the lower authority) with power, money, and etc. to testify false accusations. The author presents an interesting story that mirrors and represents a different time period, displaying the social injustice of people as they are motivated by fear, jealousy, hatred of one another, and more.
On April 7, 1930, Black boys were pulled off the train and was accused of raping girls in a crowded train and as pastor of first purchase Church and a major figure in this community, I felt like it was my duty to address the outcome of the trail. I noticed in the community there has been much weeping and as Christians, we must get over the bad that has been done to us. In the bible in chapter Job 17:9 says that ¨The righteous keep moving forward, stronger and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. This verse spoke out to me because it basically says that whatever consequence happens to us despite the fact that we did not do it, we stronger and better. The clean hands represent the boys we were accused of raping even though they did not do it.
The principle in law that one is innocent until proven guilty has created much discourse. There are those who feel that the moment that one is arrested, there is reasonable belief that they committed the crime. However, there are those who feel that just as the principle states, one is, and should be taken as a victim and the outcome could be either way: guilty or not guilty. In fact, this argument is supported by the many cases of malicious prosecutions and mistaken identities.
Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls film is based on Ntozake Shange’s play, the self-described choreopoem “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf.” In Perry’s film, there is a group of nine black women, most of whom live in the same Harlem apartment building, who all face personal crises, heartbreak and other challenges. Crystal faces an unhappy existence as an abused lover. Jo is a successful magazine editor, but her husband has a secret double life. Juanita is a relationship counselor, but cannot seem to get her love life in order.
