Just Mercy Final Project - Evan Samsalovic by Evan Samsalovic

What is the role of individuals in making the criminal justice system more fair or less fair?

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:00:02 UTC

The role of individuals in making the criminal justice system more or less fair is serving as contributors to how fair the justice system is. Furthermore, individuals serve as contributors in the system's fairness in that if they mistreat or abuse the system they make it less fair for others and therefore the overall system. Although if one abides by the system and stays truthful it makes the system more fair for others and everyone.

Examples of people making the system more fair

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:02:21 UTC

An example of people making the justice system more fair could be Bryan Stevenson during Walter McMillian's trial. In this trial Bryan Stevenson serves in making the system more fair since throughout Walter's trial where Walter has been harshly mistreated and racially abused Bryan Stevenson remained on the case and pushed through not only freeing Walter but also highlighting the corruption in the criminal justice system to America. Him freeing Walter served as an example of how through perseverance individuals can slowly overcome the corruption in the legal system. This inspired the oppressed people and helped push for a more fair justice system.

Examples of people making the system less fair

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:02:55 UTC

An example of people making the justice system less fair are the judges in the Herbert Richardson case. When the author describes, "Herbert Richardson was a Vietnam War veteran whose nightmarish experiences in brutal conditions left him traumatized and scarred" (Stevenson 74). And later adds on, "The prosecutor argued that Herbert was not just tragically misguided and reckless; he was evil" (Stevenson 77). What we see is that in this trial Herbert's mental issues from his time in war were severely neglected. Even though he was blatantly not mentally well they charged him if he were. This makes the system less fair since it unjustly puts someone in prison and it normalizes charging the mentally unwell the same as the mentally well which directly makes the system less fair.

What issues of the criminal justice system that Stevenson describes in Just Mercy are especially unfair? How do individual people contribute to this issue’s unfairness?

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:05:31 UTC

Issues of the criminal justice system that Stevenson describes in Just Mercy as especially unfair is the sentencing of juveniles as adults. When the author shares, "The prosecutor insisted that Charlie be tried as an adult, and he announced that he intended to seek the maximum punishment permitted by law" (Stevenson 120). From this evidence we directly see how individual people contribute to this issue's unfairness since the people within the system are too focused on seeking revenge on the prosecuted that they neglect their young age and immaturity. This common practice makes it acceptable to do this to juveniles and further contribute the issues within the justice system.

An external Examples of the Criminal Justice System's unfairness

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:07:59 UTC

An external example of the criminal justice system's unfairness is highlighted in the money bail system. In America there are two Justice Systems. One for the rich and one for everyone else. This is prevalent in the bail system since whereas the less wealthy have to stay in jail for weeks, months, or years until there case resolves the more wealthy can simply buy their pre-trial freedom and keep their job and stay at home. This is unfair since it highlights the disparity which the wealthy and non wealthy are treated.

An external example of the criminal justice system's fairness

564025_2_1 — 2025-02-28 20:09:07 UTC

An external example of the criminal justice system's fairness is the recent reforms which allowed individuals with criminal records to have guaranteed voting rights after serving their sentences. This was an issue prominent before 1997 since ex-convicts could not vote for their country.

564025_2_1 — 2025-03-04 21:36:24 UTC