If i could Change One Thing about the World

The lowest form of law enforcement is the police, they are appointed by a state to enforce the law, protect the people, and prevent crime and civil disorder. As an officer of the law you are taught “selfless service” meaning that you put the well being of other above your own and take the necessary precautions to defuse the situation accordingly. However there are many cases within the past few years that refute this norm.

Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old African-American woman who was pulled over for a traffic violation in July of 2010. The exchange between the two involved escalated, resulting in an arrest and charge for assaulting a police officer. However the dash cam video, as well as numerous eyewitness accounts says that Bland was slammed against the ground after refusing to get out of her car without a probable cause. After reviewing the footage the officer was placed on administrative leave.These few examples only show half of what the people that are supposed to be “protecting us” are doing. Police brutality is a common mishap that stems from a power trip. The sense that they are the law, and when our judicial system fails to show them otherwise the misconduct only continues.

The courts are another representation of the flawed judicial system. In the United States everyone is entitled to their one day in court, where they are eligible to prove their innocence. Notwithstanding, that idea of our system is erroneous; it is perceived as ignorant to prove your innocence because, the potential punishment can be worse. If you notice most people plead guilty and get a marginal punishment, regardless if they contest to the allegations or not. However, there is no other country in the world that pursues more aggressive chargers if a suspect does not plead guilty.

Ariel Castro, a bus driver in Ohio accepted a plea deal for a kidnapping case to avoid the death penalty. Castro was accused of holding three women captive for a decade and was supposed to go trail August 5 2013. Nearly a month before the trial the prosecution appeared with a plea deal that would sentence him life without parole plus an extra 1,000 years. Castro stated “I knew I was pretty much going to get the book thrown at me.” That Friday the judge accepted the plea deal, and August 1 Castro awaited sentencing.

The Sixth Amendment states the right to a speedy and public trial with a jury. By handing out partial sentencing from a “plea”, you take away these rights and dismantle the power behind the saying “innocent until proven guilty”.

We as Americans have fallen so comfortably into a cycle that we fail to see anything wrong with it and go about injustice as another day. But that’s not what this is, this is bigger than just a day; this is our life. Therefore, if I could change one thing in the world it would be how the United States handles its judicial System. 

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