NCJ Number
6815
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1972) Pages: 35-41
Date Published
1972
Length
7 pages
Annotation
IN SPITE OF MANY ABUSES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AUTHOR MAINTAINS LAW IS NECESSARY TO A GOOD SOCIETY AND SHOULD BE OBEYED WHERE CONSCIENCE ALLOWS.
Abstract
RADICALS OF BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT PREFER NOT TO WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF LAW, WHICH THEY FIND UNRESPONSIVE TO TODAY'S NEEDS. A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE COURTS GROWS AS JUDGES AND JURIES REFLECT COMMUNITY SENTIMENT INSTEAD OF THE LAW, AND COURT RULINGS ARE OPENLY DEFIED WHEN THERE IS MASSIVE RESISTANCE. THE COST AND TIME INVOLVED IN BRINGING A CASE TO COURT ARE MAJOR OBSTACLES TO THE POOR AND THE UNEDUCATED. JUDGES OF VARYING INTELLIGENCE, CHARACTER, AND POLITICAL STANDING MAKE DECISIONS CONTRADICTORY TO ONE ANOTHER. THE LAW IS NOT A PANACEA. TOO MANY SOLUTIONS ARE SOUGHT THROUGH LITIGATION WHEN POLITICAL ACTION WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE. IF WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGE, TRADITIONAL POLITICAL CHANNELS MUST BE PRESSURED BY THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE MUST DISTRUST THOSE IN AUTHORITY AND FOLLOW OUR CONSCIENCE RATHER THAN THE LAW. BUT, THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF LAWS MUST BE PRESERVED TO KEEP ALIVE THE CONCEPT OF THE RIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST THE STATE. AUTHOR ABSTRACT