In the following weeks, eight of the boys were convicted and sentenced to death in the electric chair. The only one, who was not convicted, was twelve year old Leroy Wright. His trial ended with a mistrial. There was a great deal of public outcry for and against the boys. The NAACP was slow to help the boys and the International Labor Defense (ILD) took over their cases.
Plea - Bargaining - In a recent sexual assault case involving the gang rape of two 16-year-old girl, the DPP entered into plea bargaining with the accused. In return for guilty pleas, the DPP agreed not to mention that a knife had been used in the attack. Thus Plea-bargaining can mean accused gets a lighter sentence than deserved. [edit] Accessibility The accessibility of the legal system is dependent on; Cost – legal representation is expensive – (look at legal aid) Time – lengthy trials cost more and increases anxiety (look at delays) Denying the accused the right to freedom if on remand. Damaging the reputation of the accused while the case remains unresolved Allows the influence of media, could affect the outcome of the trial.
For example, there was a “man [who was] sentenced to prison for 25 years to life under the law for stealing a bottle of vitamins” (Murphy). In March 1999, when the Three Strikes law was challenged by this case, the Supreme Court “refused to hear” (Murphy) a word that was said by the people. By putting them in prison for an excessive amount of years, housing for serious offenders is being made unavailable which will lead to an increase “to an already overcrowded and expensive prison system” (Messerli). Some of the people may have committed the innocuous crime to help their spouse and children. When used, the Three Strikes law treats all crimes the exact same way, which makes the law unjust.
In the essay, "In a Land of Forks and Spoons," the author tells readers of her first-hand experience of being culturally different from the people around her. The writer uses vivid and detailed descriptions to help readers better envision her anecdote of being a kindergartener. By explaining that, "pointing at a person with my middle finger was considered inappropriate and rude," and, "that I had never once in my life ordered pizza over the phone," she compares the differences in the Chinese and American culture. She also states, "I sought after the clear blue eyes, the bouncy golden locks, and the pink frilly dresses," instead of possessing, "straight black hair, my slanted, dull brown eyes, and my summer outfit."
As the social worker was questioning L.P., Clark showed up and took the boy back home while denying any responsibility. The next day, social workers took the boy and his sister to the hospital where they determined that both L.P. and his younger sister had been abused. Clarke was charged with domestic violence, felonious assault, and multiple accounts of child endangerment. The trial judge found L.P. incompetent to testify at trial but allowed several witnesses to testify for him. The court found Clark guilty and sentenced him to twenty-eight years in prison.
Can also be used with sexual assault/ consent. In one case, there was a man and a woman who had an evening of drinking, and the woman had returned to his home afterwards, he believed sex was consensual. In 1992, offense of sexual assault amended to restrict mistake of fact defense with regard to consent. It is not a defense if a) it arose from accused’s (i) self-induced intoxication (ii) recklessness or willful blindness or b) the accused did
Illegal drug crimes would drop, allowing the police to turn their attention to more serious problems. There is a marijuana smoker arrested every 45 seconds in the United States. Normally, they receive large fines and small jail time but repeat offenders can get up to five years. Sadly, rapists and murderers are able to get only one year. Do you really think smoking a joint is worse that raping and killing someone??
According to California penal code 314 (Indecent exposure) you may be subject to registering as a California sex offender if convicted (Shouse, 2012). Indecent exposure can be something as simple as going to the restroom on the side of the road in a public place or being over 18 and having wiling intercourse with a minor. For example, Kevin Teichen is a known sex offender who has served time in prison for having sex with two underage 16 year olds (zorn, 2011). Although Kevin has the social skills as a ten year old the two girls were underage so he received a five-year prison sentence. Kevin is not expected to be put on parole when he is eligible because he has no place to go but his parents.
Even though it is still illegal prostitution is tolerated in two other counties in Nevada. (Fox.com) In Nevada, prostitution can take place in what is called a brothel. A brothel is defined as a management tool used to coordinate the presentation of sexually associated and closely related commercial goods and services between consumer and provider. In areas where prostitution is illegal, brothels may take on the front of a message parlor. The first brothels had been found to have existed in 4000 B. C. Since then, brothels have been associated with prostitution.
In the final group, the two confederates in the experiment noted the smoke and then ignored it, which resulted in only 10% of the participants reporting the smoke. Example of the Bystander Effect One of the most famous examples of the bystander effect in introductory psychology textbooks is the brutal murder of a young woman named Catherine "Kitty" Genovese. In the early morning hours of March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Genovese was returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked and stabbed by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. Despite Genovese’s calls for help, none of the neighbors in the nearby apartment building who heard her cries called police to report the incident.