“We the People of the United States, in Order to for a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United Stated Of America.” On September 17, 1787 thirty-nine men gathered in Philadelphia to sign their names on a document. A document that would bring forth more national growth and knowledge the world has ever witnessed. The Peoples intimate link to the thoughts and ideas of the Framers and the common citizen generate the kind of civic bond that is vital for good government. Sadly, today that link between citizen and Founder is less common and the systems that govern our country are becoming less equal in enforcing laws and consequences.
The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States is followed by 7 articles:
Article 1- The Legislative Branch
Article 2- The Executive Branch
Article 3- The Judicial Branch
Article 4- The States
Article 5- Amendment
Article 6- Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
Article 7- Ratification
Now I could go all into what each branch does and what the States and Debts are but I’m going to trust you know a little bit about our Constitution. Next is our Amendments or better known as the Bill of Rights. They are exactly what the name says. A bill, meaning document, of rights We, the People of the United States are entitled to from birth. The rights we are granted by this are sometimes disregarded by officers of corrections in any field. For example, Amendment 5 states, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” You are innocent until proven guilty. In most cases the suspected criminal is put behind bars for twelve months awaiting a trial and is not even guilty once a trial has ended. The suspected criminal gets no form of reimbursement in any way for losing a year of his life. After all, how can you give a person back a year of their lives?
Another example I would like to bring to the table is the Stages of Disorganization Theory. The Stages of Disorganization Theory states, “Poverty leads to Social Disorganization leads to Breakdown of Social Control leads to Criminal Areas leads to Cultural Transmission leads to Criminal Careers.” This basically means once a criminal always a criminal. The American Legal System understands criminals will always be around, causing jobs in law enforcement to around. Recently a lot of police lost jobs due to economic crises, but if you pay attention to the news you can count down the days till the state prisons will start a population cut. It is obvious to see that jobs in law enforcement will rise again on a count that there will be convicted criminals in the street categorized under the Stages of Disorganization Theory. And remember, once a criminal always a criminal right?
Quid pro quo indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. English speakers often use the term to mean “a favor for a favor” and the phrases with almost identical meaning include: “what for what,” “give and take,” “tit for tat”, “this for that”, and “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours”. People are often excused from the law under this act. For example, prostitution is an illegal act but it remains common and lawful to use gifts, expensive meals and so on, as a means of attracting a sexual partner. In this case the term prostitution is not even considered. The enticing act would be more along the line as wine and dining.
The Station fire in the Angeles National Forest that is burning right now as we speak has claimed over eighteen homes and two lives. The fire was thought at first to be accidental but now proved to be self started. Whoever started the fire is now in more trouble then they can imagine. It started off with simple arson, and led up to murder or manslaughter. This is another example on how the law works in mysterious ways. However, yes the guy or girl did start the fire, but they had no participation in telling the fire fighters whose lives were taken by the fire to go and join in putting the fire out. The suspected criminal obviously has no ties or ways to communicate with the firemen and did not commit murder in a face to face malicious act.
To tell you the truth, if you have money or great political ties, you’re innocent nine out of ten times. If by some chance you are guilty, you will get charged with simply a misdemeanor or a charge far less deserving of what you did. You have to think about this, a public attorney sees about 160 people at a time, when will he or she have enough time for you? People that are more financially equipped can get private attorneys and actually have a fighting chance at a case without being put in debt. See it’s quite simple, once a criminal always a criminal. Well that’s at least what the United States of America believes.
U.S. Const. (September 17, 1787) art. I-VIIPublished: Sep. 17, 1787 https://www.consource.org/index.asp?bid=529
U.S. Constitution Online Published: April 1997 https://rccd.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5116001.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct