It is often said that our criminal justice system may not be perfect, but it is the best the world has to offer. The boast presupposes that our system affords individuals true due process and embraces the ideals of fairness, humanity and righteousness.
Speaking from the front lines, I can attest to the fact that the American system of criminal justice is fundamentally flawed. Our system continues to create a vast underclass of individuals who are unemployable, hopeless and alienated from society. Moreover, although we claim to be a nation of laws and not of men, the fate of many is in the hands of a few individuals who do not exercise their power with the wisdom and humanity befitting their station. Most troubling is the complacency and tolerance demonstrated by those who are the cogs in the wheel of what is the system. Compassion and the “big picture” are lost. Outrage over the abuse of authority is nonexistent.
