RE: JUSTICE

Justice has no beginning or end, but is a continually evolving process based upon accepted societal norms. 150 years ago justice was hanging a horse thief, and was an accepted practice. Society would not accept that in today's age.

Justice includes the entire legal system, all components of which play a role in creating a "justice" that is accepted by society. The police bring information to the Courts, the Courts process the information, the penal system houses those whom the Courts punish, and parole officers monitor those punished and attempt to bring them back to societies standards.

It is sad to note the recidivism rate. The burning question remains-Has the Justice system become a failure?

RE: JUSTICE

The concept of justice is continually changing, and will continue to do so. I agree with Yarbrough that the justice system includes everyone he noted, but I would add that it includes the public also. In any individual case where the justice system has seemed to fail, the public can act to correct it and has done so numerous times.

In a specific incident, there is a slightly different point of view. In this case, justice has a specific beginning when the injustice occurs. This causes an imbalance in nature and this imbalance will continue until justice is served. Our society tends to think of justice having been served when the criminal completes his sentence, though we also add restitution as part of it sometimes. Many people will watch for the parole hearings and will fight to keep a person in jail until their sentence is complete. This is why we also see things like the cold case squads working on old crimes. Look at how there has been pressure to bring the KKK member to trial for a 40 year old murder.

On the other hand, it is rare but sometimes society does see a crime as having been punished out of proportion. The best example of this is the young man in Georgia (IIRC?) who received a ten year sentence for a consensual sex act. There has been significant public action to get the case reviewed and the sentence shortened. It appears to be working in that case also.

RE: JUSTICE

To echo other's comments, I believe that justice never ends. What we may consider justice today may not be viewed as justice from those past or by those in the future because of the ever-changing laws and the public's feeling is. While I have seen some mind-blowing sentences for people I have dealt with, I still believe in our system of justice. There are times, however, some may get discouraged with the justice system because of the recidivism rate, but it's still what sets our country apart from others.

RE: JUSTICE

If I may I would only add one more thing to the above. Justice is and was conformity to a righteous law. If you have no Morality, there is no Justice.

Unfortunately, Real Justice will always be a moving target until we stop and conform ourselves to the TRUE nature of things.

God's Law...the Ten Commandments, are the very foundation of all the principles that support Justice we serve and Justice we use to Protect.

If we throw out God, we throw out the Law. No God, No Law, No morality, No Truth, No Justice.

Justice will cease to exist as a tool to protect society, if we loose sight of the very bedrock of Law....GOD!

RE: JUSTICE

Aqua Pig,
While I do agree with what you say in regards to the law and God one thing has always made me question how much God really plays a part in law and justice. If you go to court and have to sit on the stand they tell you to raise your right hand, they hold up a bible, and they ask you to "solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God". I am a nondenominational christian and I have read my bible more than once. My issue with that part of court is the fact that in Matthew it says not to swear, but for your yes to be a yes and your no to be a no. I find odd that our courts would ask us to swear on the very thing that tells us not to swear. If I am mistaken in my opinion I would love for someone to educate me on the truth of it. I am curious tho, can someone refuse to "swear" on the bible and inform the judge that their yes can be taken as a yes and their no taken as a no as it is said in Matthew 5:37?

Have a safe and wonderful day!

Peace, Love, and God Bless

Amber D. Curtis

RE: JUSTICE

Amber,

You watch too many movies :)

In reality, we do not swear on a bible in court or add the phrase "so help me god". At least I never did in 30 years of testifying but I guess some court somewhere might still do it.

As for the swear or nto swear and what the Bible says, it is an easy answer. The meanings of words change over time, and sometimes a word can have two (or more) meanings at the same time. I am not sure we use swear the same way they did when King James had the new testament translated. Look at what the word means now as proof.

We can use it to mean taking an oath OR we can use it to mean cursing at a person. Which one was Matthew against?

RE: JUSTICE

The role of religion is interesting as it relates to justice. I'm sure most Americans associate justice with religion and God.

Other countries have a system of justice but no unifying religion.

I used to teach English to this French guy who constantly expressed amazement over America's outward religiosity. He said no one talked about religion in France; it wasn't important in politics or the courts.

Asians also express the same puzzlement towards American religion. However, they believe very strongly in morals and family.

RE: JUSTICE

Steve,
I know I watch too many movies, but when ya don't have cable or local channels thats all ya got for enterainment other than a police scanner (and the things officers say on that thing is quite entertaining!). However, I did not get my info from just movies, sadly I have been to court twice. Both times it was that way, except for the second time when I had to raise my left cuz my right hand was in a sling. As far as 'swear' and what it means, to me it means going against God's word (the Bible) and I have come to have an issue with 'swear'ing in court. But we'll see soon how much of an issue it will be when I have to be a witness at a custody hearing soon:( But, thank you all for your input, it gives me a lot to put in my paper!
Have a safe and wonderful day!

Peace, Love, and God Bless
Amber D. Curtis

Justice defined

Steve's right about the Bible language. Let me add to this...the Bible was originally written in Hebrew. The perceptions of what was being recorded in ancient times in the Jewish culture and in the Hebrew language is very different than how we are trying to interpret the Bible in our culture in modern times translated into the English language.

I was involved in a Bible study of ancient Jewish culture and language study at one time learning how to look at the Bible with the understanding of the Jewish culture. When you do...there is much to be re-understood.

If I remember my college right (LOL), our Justice system is somewhat modeled after English common law...which has roots way back into history as well. So does some of the language used in our justice system today. It has come from a very distance past which the language used might be confusing now in today's American court system.

RE: JUSTICE

Justice fails when our society as a whole gets too negative. When people start to bemoan things like the number of people in prison. The overall attitude towards The System contributes to crime. Criminals are glamorized, the police are vilified. Entire sociological studies are geared towards "understanding" the prisoner, showing them sympathy. Its pathological and backwards.

We might wonder what it would take to make more people actually support our justice system. Maybe we need to involve more people in things like sitting on juries, or participating in the system.

Last edited @ 6/19/2007 3:05 PM