Every country has those people who are constantly breaking the law. In other words, these people do wrong or do what is not allowed. Such people are also referred to as criminals or lawbreakers. Because of such people, a particular system helps punish or rectify the lawbreakers. The system that takes charge of criminals is known as the Criminal Justice System. This system consists of the courts, the police, and the corrections. The criminal Justice System is designed to ensure public safety, deliver justice to lawbreakers, and enforce laws. At some point, these systems differ depending on their nation, and in this paper, I will give my thoughts on the criminal justice of America and the Cameron Todd Willingham case.
The Criminal Justice System of America was made to ensure justice is served to lawbreakers, enforce laws, and ensure public safety. This system comprises private agencies, government agencies, and overarching policies that unite to maintain peace and order in the country. The American justice system is based on the English Common Law System. The main idea of this system is to be fair enough, such that two sides present their arguments before the judge: the defendant and the plaintiff. According to the American system, the prosecutor acts as a plaintiff on behalf of the state or citizen. I think this is fair, especially to those who cannot afford a prosecutor.
Cameron Todd Willingham was an American man convicted and executed for the murder of his children. Todd’s children died in a fire accident, but he was the main suspect in their death (Conklin&Michael,2018). Todd always tried to prove his innocence, claiming that he did not kill his children, but from the evidence collected by the American government, he could have killed his children on purpose. From the evidence collected, I also think he did that on purpose. For instance, a day after the death of his children, Todd was seen in a club with a lady having fun; I do not think there is any parent who can do that after losing three children. Again, on the day of the tragedy, Todd was outside their house, he saw the fair burning down his house with his children, and he did nothing to save them. I, therefore, think that Cameron Todd killed his children, and he was not wrongly executed. I think the American government was fair enough to convict and execute him.
In my view, America’s criminal justice system is sound; however, it also has flaws that drag back its competency. Some marks are point-and-convict arbitration, near-zero answerability for policemen and prosecutors, and unlawful over-criminalization. On the same note of challenges, I think the main issues contributing to the high number of incarcerations are mental health problems and drug abuse. Therefore, I believe the money for detentions and policing should be used for treatment and prevention programs. To some extent, I think the American justice system is unfair because it is arguably more effective at preventing crime and is certainly more diverse the minorities like African-Americans, Hispanics, women, and Asians.
In conclusion, I can say that despite the few challenges that the Criminal justice system of America faces, I think they always try. I think the system has tried to do its best as there has been positive feedback in this system. There have been some commendable and noticeable changes in the public. For instance, racism and drug users have been reduced because the lawbreakers are sparingly punished. Though the system is trying, a lot has to be done to improve and ensure that the public has been served accordingly.
Work Cited
Conklin, Michael. “Innocent or Inconclusive? Analyzing Abolitionists’ Claims About the Death Penalty.” Innocent or Inconclusive: Analyzing Abolitionists’ Claims About the Death Penalty, NEB. L. REV.: BULL. (September 4, 2018) (2018).
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