SOC 201 and 310 : October 17

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Criminology

Today in class, I would like you to review your assigned reading and I would like each of you to offer a way you would modify the current judicial system in dicussion.

For next class, please review these handouts. We will be discussing the role of censorship in regards to its legal necessity, and the issue of obscenity.


Death and Dying

I hope you did your reading.

In continuing with our Homicide unit, please discuss the following question.
What factors do you believe excuse some one from being responsible for a death when it comes to matters of personal control for one's actions? Psychological illness? Extreme distress? Introduction of an influential outside source?

For next class, please read Anne Sexton's poem Suicide Note.

Comments

Re: Criminology

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Modifying the current judicial system would be...difficult at best. It's so convoluted and complex in it's current state that the only thing I can see making it somewhat easier, less confusing for the layman is to possibly unify some different courts. Not all of them, mind you, but I'm mainly thinking of unifying appellate courts with regular circuit/juvenile/civil/criminal courts. Because, during most cases, people found guilty will attempt to appeal the decision which only ties up the case longer, causing tax payers to pay more money, and a possible criminal to remain free."

Re: Criminology

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"That is true, but how to we have the appropriate checks and balances to keep innocent and wrongly convicted people out of jail without the current system of appeals?"

Re: Criminology

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I think the appeals process is necessary but I find myself always wondering if, when an appeal is going to be processed, does an almost whole new trial have to exist? I don't think the original judge of the original trial should hear the case because of bias but my main modification would be to the appeals process to either streamline it or renovate it so that time is cut down from the process and less money comes from the taxpayer. How that would be done would be difficult as appeals are necessary but I just find some lawyers and clients using them to keep the client out of jail."

Re: Criminology

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

"That seems like a logical idea. Thank you. Good work."