The USA used to pride itself on its justice system and generaly equity justice was available if you could afford a good lawyer. But since 1980 the ultra right took over America and they believe that justice doesn't matter and that the cause of crime is "criminals" and that these misfits have to be punished. It is pure social darwinism or fascism, which ever word you prefer. Almost no one expects justice in America today if you are thought of as an "enemy"



. http://tinyurl.com/cesnb

Coltrane,

The criminal justice system in America is a business.Many prisons are no more than retail centers where inmates make everything from license plates,clothes , to taking airline reservations.Its evolved that way in the last thirty years or so when state budgets for incarceration shrunk.

That being said at the same time crime, especially drug related crime increased.That increase brought a cry from the populace to do something.The elected officials responded by issung stiffer and stiffer jail terms for minor offenses.Thus you have 2 million plus in jail.

I thinkcriminals should be in jail, drug abusers should not. my take in a nutshell.

As much as I would like to blame racism, I cant deny the fact that black people just does stupid sh!t sometimes that makes it incapable of defending them. Although its not perfect I honestly dont see Americas criminal justice system no worse than any other European country. DNA testing is becoming a big thing that is beginning to make to system more balanced.

BTW. Ohio has one of the most developed criminal justiced systems in the nation.Alot of cases arent decided without DNA evidence..Alot of blackmen have been released from prison because of this and has been compensatedfor the mistakesin the system..