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The American Judicial System: Does It Favor the Criminal?

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The American Judicial System: Does It Favor the Criminal?
OUTLINE

I. Introduction

II. Youthful Offenders

A. Mistaken Notion of Leniency

B. Proof of Increased Effort to Criminalize Youthful Offenders

1. Stronger Penalties

2. Prison Population

C. Preventative Affects

III. Drug & Violent Crimes

A. Mistaken Notion of Leniency

B. "Get Tuff" Attitudes

IV. Incarceration Issues

V. Conclusion

Table of Contents

Abstract……………………………………………………………………v

Statement Of Purpose……………………………………………………..1

Youthful Offenders…………………………………………………….….1

Drug & Violent Crime Cases……….………….………………………….4

Incarceration Issues………………………………………………………..6

Works Cited………………………………………………….…………….7

The American Judicial System: Does it favor the criminal?

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March 26, 2000

The American Judicial System: Does it favor the criminal?

Statement of Purpose

As crime in America seems to be decreasing, reports from law enforcement experts state that: violent crimes are expected to increase (Butterfield 6). Many people feel that the American Judicial System treats the criminal as a victim, therefor, favoring the criminal. The American judicial system, however, has taken an attitude that "Perpetrators not only deserve blame but are worthy of it, in the fullest, most human sense of the word" (Reidinger 98). Despite the popular belief that the American Judicial System favors the criminal, in reality, this system imposes strict penalties in the majority of criminal defense cases in this country.

Youthful Offenders

Crime in the United States appears to be increasing and gives the general public

a mistaken notion of leniency toward youthful offenders. Underage students on college campuses, for instance, continue consuming alcohol at alarming rates; yet, some colleges merely fine students rather than demanding them to face their legal punishment. Most


Cited: Adler, Jerry. "Murder at an Early Age." Newsweek 24 Aug. 1998: http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/issue/08-98b/printed/us/na0508.htm Alter, Jonathan. "Powell 's New War." Newsweek 28 Apr. 1997 http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/issue/17_97a/printed/us/na0117.htm Booth, William. "California Toughens Juvenile Crime Laws." Washington Post 13 Mar. 2000: A03. Cose, Ellis. "Locked Away and Forgotten." Newsweek 28 Feb. 2000: http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/printed/us/so/a16572-2000feb20.htm Edry, Sandy. "Sex Offenders Online." Newsweek 31 Dec. 1998: http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/printed/01-99a/tnw/today/cs/cs02we2_1.htm Lawrence, Jill. "Similar agendas, dissimilar approaches." USA TODAY 28 Feb. 2000: 11A. Powell, General Colin. "Left To Myself." Newsweek 27 Apr. 1998 http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/issue/17-98a/nw-980427_032_1.htm Reidinger, Paul. "The making of a victim." ABA Journal Apr. 1996: 98. Sniffen, Michael. "Federal Drug Sentences Declining." Washington Post 13 Mar. 2000: C12. Young, Rebecca. "Bad News In Massachusetts." ABA Journal Nov. 1996: 42-47.
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