Preparatory Notes #1
Discussed below is the definition of justice and whether the legal system is effectively implementing justice into society. There is a vast notion on the definition of justice and how punishable the crimes that occur are determined. Justice is a large topic that has various ways of interpretation. Justice can solely be about showing inequality or punishable outcomes. It was once something opposite to chaos and applicable anywhere and everywhere, however, now modern day criminologists define justice as moral and ethical principles (i.e. right and wrong). Walklate, S. (2011) Criminology: The Basics, London Routledge expresses how Justice is determined regarding the proportionality of the crime. The proportionality being the idea “that punishment is not arbitrarily imposed but has been subjected to debate. It has been agreed on and considered appropriate for the crime committed” (Walklate, 2011). A lot of talk is expressed about the legal system inequitably imposing rightful punishments for those who commit crimes. For example, The Daily Telegraph (2015) reports about an individual being accused of vandalizing numerous tomb stones belonging to children. The offender walked away with a 9-month suspended sentence and fine of $63,000 in damages. This cause outraged amongst the community as the offender got off without jail time and showed little remorse to the families. Later report shows how religion had a play in this persons acts as he sees it ‘in the eyes of Allah he has done a great deed, showing how religion interplays with how punishment is seen’. Though it is not seen as a high-profile case, the point to express is the leniency of legal personnel’s, and how their decisions may not be justly in the eyes of society. This is further emphasized in Cook’s Justice as a two-way street (2006) that conveys human rights effectively being denied regarding the notion of reality and the promise of humans. While the government consciously persuades society into agreeing and understanding the just outcomes of the law and the enforcements that take place when situations occur, does society ethically think that the government is carrying out these punishments in a just manner. The concept of lived reality is interpreted by what society presents today, where individuals in America face consistent forms of racism. Data gathered interprets the crimes occurring are done predominantly by black color people, as they find this as a mean of justice or retaliation in getting their points across to the government. This clearly displays where the problem lies between the concepts of ‘promise’ and ‘reality’ as the government depict one thing but society presents another. The United Nations Declaration of Human rights mentions all humans being under equal law, though can we really justify this statement. Furthermore, Christine Crime Controlled Industry (1993) speaks of this concept of ‘lady justice’ who represents the concept of objectivity, “where justice is or should be meted out tangibly, without fear or favor, regardless of money, wealth, power, or identity; blind justice and impartiality”. In society, nothing can be said against the right of the legislation to make the basic choice of values, both as to what to criminalize and when it comes to the amount of punishment. In a world where civilians of a small community live, there could be copious amounts of injustice as there may be a hierarchical system present, where the higher authority has the power to determine one’s punishment. Christine communicates how discussion is important amongst individuals as they debate over topics and notions that help to improve the legal system and society towards a more just world. Justice can only be achieved when argument is solely accepted or rejected, given weight, and added up without the notion of what surrounds the individual imposing the punishment but rather what is presented to adhere. Therefore, it is imperative that the government take a step back and think for a second on what the term Justice means and whether they are applying this in everyday life regarding situations of sentencing or punishment or deceiving society in hopes of some form of pleasure being achieved.