JUST-201 Lecture 8: Notes 11/15
Document Summary
1972 court case that says death penalty is unconstitutional furman v georgia. Pros: will set an example, more costly to have a life sentence, Everyone is a human - jury has to decide the death penalty. Imperfect perfect system - better than only one judge deciding but not a foolproof system. Prosecutor can offer a plea bargain for a lesser charge. Murder in first degree - life in prison. Anything could go wrong in trial, plea bargain is a guaranteed conviction. Lesser charge in exchange to admitting guilt to lesser charge. You can only go down 2 degrees from whatever the original charge is. They stay in jail until jury decides - so it s easier to take plea bargain. Plea bargains can be received over and over to same person. Every case judged individually, only at sentencing does it matter about what happened before. Usa patriot act - established department of homeland security because of 9/11.