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| Government |
| Department of Injustice |
| 2014-10-10 |
| By CONRAD BLACK [NYSUN] Every week there are new revelations of the decrepit and often barbarous state of the U.S. criminal-justice and prison systems. The most egregious aspects of its dysfunction are not the absurdly severe sentences and world-record incarceration levels, or the North Korean conviction rates, or the frequent murders of prisoners by correctional officers in some of the state prisons, but the politically motivated antics of the prosecutors. I was one of those who warned of the criminalization of policy differences in the Watergate affair, but unfortunately the inexplicable and uncharacteristic mismanagement of the whole tawdry sequence of events by President Nixon made it relatively easy for his enemies to drive him from office. It was bound to be an intoxicating experience, and beneath the confected sanctimony of many of the Watergate principals in the media and law enforcement, the joys of the assassin were evident. Ben Bradlee, editor of the Washington Post, whose notes reveal that he distrusted Woodward and Bernstein's Watergate reporting, was audibly rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of going over the same ground again in the piffling Iran-Contra affair of 1986. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 A defense attorney who knows that the locals are keystone cops and the possibility of lost accountability could crop up would intentionally delay the defendant's 'day in court' vs his 'right to a speedy' trial betting that 2 years awaiting is better than 20 years for a conviction for being caught with 2 kilos. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-10-10 12:06 |
| #3 Procupiou2k: ever been in jail or prison? Alot of regular ppl in there waiting for their day in court. Alot can't afford too make bail so they are drug along so long they take a plea whether guilty or not just too get out. I was in jail with a guy who was waiting on his day of court for 2 yrs. Day of trial it lasted 30 mins., when the evidence could not be found ( 2 kilos of coke). Just saying this happens alot |
| Posted by: chris 2014-10-10 09:56 |
| #2 Every week there are new revelations of the decrepit and often barbarous state of the U.S. criminal-justice and prison systems. The most egregious aspects of its dysfunction are not the absurdly severe sentences and world-record incarceration levels, or the North Korean conviction rates, or the frequent murders of prisoners by correctional officers in some of the state prisons, Yet FBI stats imply we are, per capita, at the low end of frequency of crimes. At any other time in history, the large population inhabiting our extensive penal system would have simply been executed. There would be a lot less overcrowding and 'barbarism' in the penal system if that old formula had been followed. Instead, we warehouse those numbers and then complain about the conditions, never acknowledging the 'barbarism' that would be let loose upon what ever society remain if these people were simply released. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-10-10 07:54 |
| #1 It is hard to imagine what new outrages have to occur before the public demands a restoration of America’s status as a society of reasonable laws, where a day in court is a reassuring thought for the innocent. I fear it is too late. We are Kombani. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-10-10 06:38 |