Blog Post #4

1. Do you think that the mitigating circumstances help defray the heinous nature of the crimes committed? Be sure you explain both the mitigating circumstances and the heinous nature of the crimes. Also be sure to explain why you feel the way you do.

Mitigating circumstances can be seen as circumstances in the scene of the crime, that lessen the severity of the punishment. The heinous nature of crime can be percieved as the "natural hate" that exists when a crime is committed. From my perspective, I feel that their are circumstances that should lessen the severity of punishment. For example if you murder someone in self defense and you are proven to be guilty the severity of the punishment should be reduced. If a man accidentally kills another man in the attempt of taking his wallet the mitigating circumstances should help defray the heinous nature of the crime.

2. Why do you think the prosecutors sought to bring the defendants to trial instead of accepting the guilty pleas? Was the opportunity to execute the defendants too much to pass up? What are the benefits of accepting the offered guilty pleas? What are the negative side effects of going to trial and seeking the death penalty? 

Prosecutors sought to bring the defendants to trial instead of accepting the guilty pleas, becauase they feel the severity of the punishment might be minimized, a bail might be set, or you could be proved innocent. When pleading guilty to the charges, you could be helped in some situations. For example if someone is murdered and their is plenty of evidence against the offender, pleading guilty is the best thing, and could result in the best outcome. Going to trial to seek the death penalty has negative side effects, because the jury and the judge would realize that you have nothing to live for, and therefore they would want to punish you for the crimes committed.

3. Finally, what role do mental health issues play in cases such as these? How should we as a society balance the roles of our punitive justice system and our supportive mental health system?

From my point of view, I feel that supportive mental health systems should be increased in order to help those who continously commit these types of crimes. Jail or prison isn't the solution for these beings  that have serious mental issues.

Blog post #3

In the Cheshire murders, information was hidden from the public and the police didn't do their job. When the chief of staff praised the work the police had done, members of the family which had been murdered felt insulted by this and opposed this. They felt that if the police had actually done a "good job", nobody would of got killed. It is obvious that the police didn't respond correctly to the call made 30 minutes prior to the murders. Evidence shows that the process of such crimes need to change, and need to be better prevented. All police departments, regardless of place should be prepared for every situation that shows up. More precaution is to be taken in order to prevent such tragedies. I think the public should have available all information of the case, specially when the police seems to change their stories every time. This way the people can have a clearer perspective of what they are dealing with and how to react to it. Those who were supposed to help the family and serve them with information of the case, have failed to collaborate and have failed to answer their questions and concerns. As an outsider, I feel its not fair and improvements need to be made.

Blog post #2

2013-2014 #5 - Definition of person and Child 

The people of Colorado want to enact "protection" of pregnant mothers and their unborn children. They wish to do this by making unborn children categorized as an actual "person". The Colorado wrongful death act must include unborn children as human beings. If someone was to kill a pregnant woman, the offender should be accountable for double murder. 

Discussion questions:

-What happens if a mother tries to kill herself and by doing so she kills her baby ?

-In this case would a woman be charged for murder if she was to abort her baby ?

-How will this affect abortion laws, and abortion in general ? 

Blog post #1

The law is known to the common man, as a set of rules we all must follow to keep things in order and civilized. Technically all rules in sports, jobs, and even games are the laws of those activities. Laws give a sense of order to humanity. What we can define as the law is, what is believed to be right or just. Although throughout history the law hasn't always been just, the law will always continue to change. There will always be controversy on the death penalty and there will always be racism and segregation in some way, even though there is the Jim Crow laws. Laws act to regulate the actions of a community. Laws can be found in constitutions, legislation, and  judicial opinion. Laws have always acted as guidelines of morality and it will always be like this.
When did laws actually become official ?
Who decides when laws should change ?
Is the international law actually followed ?

Eminent Domain

Eminent domain is the power given to the government to take private property for public use by the state. The fifth amendment allows the government to do this, if they compensate the owner of the property. In general I do not agree with the eminent domain given to the government. I see this as abuse of authority, and abuse of police power. It's doesn't seem fair, to take ones home and simply give them some of what its actually worth. The police shouldnt have the right to do this. Imagine the police taking the house you've lived in for twenty years, and they build a mall where your house is. It simply doesn't seem fair.

Police corruption

Mr. Aufiero: Blog Post - Do the Police Have an Obligation to Participate in Internal Investigations and Research about Corruption?

Police corruption is an unfortunate problem we have in the United States. Although some places like Detroit and New Orleans were known to be corrupt in the past, corruption is everywhere and we live through it every day. Corruption can vary from bribes, to theft and burglary, and even abuse of power. It is only fair for police departments to collaborate with any research on corruption. They have the moral obligation to do so, and they should be open to any questioning. The only way to stop or at least contain corruption is to "cut the head off the snake" by stopping internal corruption, which is where it all starts. Officers shouldn't have the choice of participating in such research, they should have the obligation to do so.

Response to drugs

The distribution of drugs is one of the most important blue collar crimes that needs immediate response. This crime affects many people but all in bad ways. It cannot be ignored and a strategy that could help minimize this crime is the continued use of informants. Informants are first hand account witnesses, and can help the police with valuable data. The police shouldn't increase surveillance due to violating privacy, however they should use the intelligence process to stop the drug crime.