...CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM. Term Paper ID:19839 Get This Paper Free! or Buy This Paper Essay Subject: Right to fair trial vs. right of public to witness court proceedings & know what govt. is doing.... More... 7 Pages / 1575 Words 5 sources, 11 Citations, MLA Format $28.00 More Papers on This Topic Paper Abstract: Right to fair trial vs. right of public to witness court proceedings & know what govt. is doing. Paper Introduction: SHOULD CAMERAS BE ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM? Introduction and Problem Statement Although the title of this research is broad, cameras, in the context of this paper, refers to television cameras. Courts in different jurisdictions in the United States impose differing restrictions on media coverage within courtrooms. Some jurisdictions do not allow cameras of any kind, requiring even the print media to employ artist sketches for any visual reporting of courtroom proceedings. Others permit the use of still cameras under controlled conditions. Few jurisdictions permit the unrestricted use of television cameras in courtrooms. Most jurisdictions that do permit television cameras in the courtroom do not permit continuous live coverage of the proceedings. Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while...
Words: 2168 - Pages: 9
...Michelle del Rosario Effective Leadership & Management Class - Barbara Miller Individual Paper March 14, 2013 The Application of the SCARF Model on the 2011 Re-Organization of SF Court Reporters I. INTRODUCTION On Friday, September 30, 2011, the San Francisco Superior Court (SFSC) laid-off a total of sixty-seven (67) employees, including twenty-nine (29) Certified Court Reporters. The Court started the fiscal year of 2011-2012 with a $13.75 million budget deficit, and had initially mailed out two hundred (200) pink slips in July, representing 41% of it’s staff. Fortunately, austerity measures (such as extending mandatory furlough days, enforcing voluntary unpaid time off, reducing office hours, and closing civil courtrooms) and very aggressive negotiations with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) resulted in an additional $7.5 million that was used to salvage one hundred thirty-three (133) careers. September 30, 2011 was a devastating day to these sixty-seven (67) employees, and this paper will focus particularly on the effects of this re-organization on the emotions and reactions of the Court Reporters who were directly and indirectly affected. The SFSC website defines Court Reporters as “guardians of the record”. It is emphasized that not only are they Court employees, but they are also purveyors of transcripts for all interested parties. Their main job duties are providing legislated transcripts of criminal proceedings, and providing...
Words: 4369 - Pages: 18
...reality based television shows that depict the inner workings of a convicts mind and how the hero police officers, detectives, crime scene investigators and judges outwit, catch and then prosecute these lawbreakers. This exciting new fad has people watching these half hour shows and believing that they are entirely accurate. There are some television shows that use a great deal of fact in the creation of the show while other shows do not even come close. Since people have become enamored with courtroom based movies and television shows this has created a false sense of knowledge among common viewers that almost an entire nation believing that courtrooms consist of a defendant and a plaintiff (or a prosecuting attorney and a defense attorney) yelling back and forth at each other while a judge feverishly pounds his gavel on his podium in attempt to gain order in their courtroom. This is far from the way that an actual courtroom operates. Television shows will spark heated debate in a courtroom and solve each case in thirty minutes in order to collect ratings. According to Reality vs. Fantasy, “To...
Words: 1267 - Pages: 6
...Should Cameras Be Placed in Courtrooms So That Criminal Trials Can Be Televised? It is axiomatic in democracy that everyone has access to the justice system and has the right to know how those laws are enforced. This can be ensured by having trials in courtrooms televised. Whether to have cameras in courtrooms or not was a huge debate that began back in 1977 in Miami (May 2008). After a long debate higher court judges decided to allow trials to be televised in Miami. Those debates never ended because of different judges all over the world having different opinions. Personally speaking, cameras should be allowed in courtrooms so that criminal trials can be televised, to make it clear to people what circumstances they would face if they were to do anything illegal. In every country in the world laws are made in the parliament by the government in regards to the opinions of higher court judges. Many proceedings carried in the parliament are allowed to be televised so that citizens can know what the laws they should abide by are. The irony in televising parliament proceedings is that people are allowed to watch laws being made, but they cannot see how they are being enforced. If criminal trials are televised then people can know how those laws are being enforced and would be more cautious by restraining themselves from breaking the law. This is because they would know what the circumstances of their actions are, thanks to the televised criminal trials. In the United States...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...PRINCIPLES OF SENTENCING: TOWARDS A EUROPEAN CONVERSATION Paper delivered at Conference on “The Limits of the Criminal Law” at Leiden University, January 23, 2008 and subsequently published in Cupido (ed), Limits of Criminal Law (Nijmegen, 2008).[1] Tom O’Malley Senior Lecturer in Law National University of Ireland Galway First, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the students of Leiden Law School for having organised this conference. Thanks to their vision and energy, representatives from several European countries have gathered in this historic venue to discuss some key aspects of criminal law and criminal procedure. More often than not, we think of European law solely in terms of European Union law, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights or both. Needless to say, the study of European law even in this limited sense is of the highest importance given its impact on our national legal systems and our daily lives. However, growing levels of legal and political integration now demand that we broaden our vision of European law to encompass the domestic legal systems of individual European states. Some work has already begun in this regard,[2] but it is only on rare occasions such as this that we can engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas and information on areas of common concern. Criminal justice is a most appropriate and worthy topic with which to begin. In times past, sentencing would not have featured very prominently...
Words: 9462 - Pages: 38
...millions and be subjected to unfair and unnecessarily long punishments” (par.11). If these nonviolent offenders overcrowd these prisons that’s more money out of government budget, which comes from taxpayers. Surely taxpayers do not want to spend more money on people who are placed behind bars, for ten plus years, due to committing a crime that hasn’t ended anyone’s life or threatened their well-being without their consent or knowledge. If these criminals take up room in these prisons, where will the incoming murderers, rapists, and molesters go for their punishment? This will mean more prisons would have to be built to house the criminals who truly need to be locked away for ten plus years. Mandatory minimums give judges little to no discretion in sentencing. That is the very reason why states are calling for prison reforms. These one size fits all sentences are seen as unfair. People are given sentences for small crimes compared to larger crimes such as rape, murder, theft, and other crimes that involve aggressive force. According to Amber Finnegan, “The FJC concluded “there are better alternatives [than mandatory minimum sentences] that can more effectively express our values and accomplish our goals.” It has become clear over the past three decades that mandatory minimums are not only disrupting our ability to carry out our judicial system justly, but are also unnecessarily ruining the lives of people who have made minor mistakes in their past or were convicted of...
Words: 1442 - Pages: 6
...As noted earlier, nonincarceration sentences include economic sanctions, probation, and intermediate sanctions; incarceration sentences include both short-term and long-term confinement. As described in the next two chapters, short sentences are sometimes linked with an intermediate sanction, so offenders spend part of their sentence in jail or prison and part of their sentence under supervision in the community. Finally, there are sentences of death. For sentences of incarceration, indeterminate and determinate sentences are the two primary models used throughout the United States, although there are many variations for each of these. Indeterminate sentences blend the decision by the sentencing judge and a later decision by a release authority to determine the actual time served. At the time of sentencing, judges sentence offenders to indeterminate sentences, with a minimum and maximum amount of time to be served (for example, two to five years or ten to twenty years). After serving the minimum term, offenders are eligible to be released and their cases are reviewed by a parole board. The parole board determines the release date any time between the minimum and maximum sentence. If a parole board never grants parole, the offender serves the maximum sentence and then must be released. The parole decision and postrelease supervision in the community are described in Chapter 6. indeterminate sentences sentences that have a minimum and maximum time to serve; a decision by a release...
Words: 1399 - Pages: 6
...Statehouse Reporter for Telegram and Gazette discusses the mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug related crimes which were adopted in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Monahan highlights some of the major problems with minimum sentencing laws related to drug crimes. The article relates to the core of the issue by recent research and opinions of government officials who support this view. He finds this opinion strongly supported by people in the legal field and some government officials as well, however the article is also of interest to those effected by or with some interest to mandatory minimum sentencing. Many critics find the laws to be unfair for various reasons. The laws target minorities, take discretion away from judges and put it in the hands of police and prosecutors who misuse this discretion and apply punishments that do not fit the crime committed. Senator Cynthia S Creem, D-Newton has sponsored a bill that would allow inmates to be considered for parole after serving two thirds of their sentence. However this proposal was rejected outright by Lt Gov. Kerry Healey. Rep. Anne Paulsen also proposed to make the law even stricter by adding time to their sentence for those who commit drug offenses nearby a school. The article concludes with Chief Justice Mulligan maintaining the law is a problem because it disproportionately targets minorities. In conclusion Monahan has taken advantage of some useful data and opinions of government officials to scrutinize mandatory minimum sentencing...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...Within the prison system there are various key issues that surrounded the operations of the daily activities as well as the administration of the judicial system. Some of these key such as prison violence, prison rape and the drug policy issues are negative and does affect the prison. On the issue of prison violence, over the years, prison violence has been on the rise. This has causes major changes within the prions system, such as implementing strategies to control the prisoners and their criminal behaviors. Prison rape also has continues to rise. This issue has been will probably continue to exist. This is because the prison officials have yet to be able to control this kind of activity. Another issue that has been affects the prison system is the sentencing that are being handed out for drug charges. This has cause the prisons to be overcrowded. Prison Violence on the Rise Prison violence is on the rise, many prison conditions are a recipe for violence, by being overcrowded, understaffed, insufficient staff training, excessive solitary confinement, insecure facilities, mistreatment of mentally ill inmates, policies that weaken family ties, a culture of disrespect between staff and prisoners, and little accountability for wardens. These facilities are causing concern not only for inmates but, for those employed to supervise the convicted offenders. Inmate population continue to grow, staffing levels in most facilities either have stopped or decreased. Violence has increased...
Words: 2155 - Pages: 9
...Noah Messersmith English Comp 101 4/14/14 Persuasive Essay First Draft Did you know that due to mandatory minimum sentencing, the U.S. federal prison populations have almost grown 800 percent in the last three decades? What is mandatory minimum sentencing you ask? Well it is the set sentencing that is given to someone that the judge cannot shorten because it is a set time and they can’t shorten it, even for extenuating circumstances (“What Are Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws”). The U.S. Supreme Court should review the mandatory minimum sentences, weigh the positives and the negatives, look at the possible advantages and disadvantages, and then do what they need to do to enforce what they decide. Although many people are for mandatory minimum sentences and think that they are fine and don’t need to be refined and changed, there are many reasons why they should be shortened. One reason is that it will make the prison system is overpopulated and it will make it a safer place for the inmates and for the prison guards. It will make it safer for the inmates because there won’t be as many inmates in there for long periods of time and they don’t have to worry about their safety as much because right now, there are so many inmates that the guards are losing some of their control over them. It will make it safer for the prison guards because they won’t have as many people to look over and they will feel like they have more power and authority because they won’t feel as overwhelmed...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
...Mandatory Minimum Sentencing A Review of Literature With America's recently increasing problem with illegal substances; a war on drugs has erupted. American drug use has exponentially grown over the last 60 years, causing law enforcement agencies to crack down on drug use, trafficking, abuse and possession. President Nixon stated that the United States' War on Drugs was "public enemy number one" (Jarecki, Barnes, 2013). In response to this growing issue, the United State's criminal justice system began sentencing criminals to jail for a "mandatory minimum" period of time in drug related offenses. With hopes of making a dent in the drug war and of taking the guess work out of sentencing, the courts adopted the law. These longer more harsh sentences have had a positive outcome on the war on drugs. It has helped by getting offenders off the streets and the substances out of the hands of Americans. The criminals that are being sentenced to these long terms deserve the time they are given because they chose to break the U.S. law and came into contact with illegal controlled substances. By giving these mandatory minimum sentences, the criminals are off the streets and away from the pressures of drugs and crime where they used to live, and have the chance to regain a new life through prison rehabilitation. The mandatory minimum sentences are given not only to help punish criminals individually, but also to help the judicial system by way of giving the judges a guideline and a standard...
Words: 1206 - Pages: 5
...Courtroom Participants Team B: Sheena McCall, Idalia Gill, Neil Gabe, Billie Adams, and Dannielle Rea CJA/224 October 31, 2011 Austin Dunham Weidner Courtroom Participants In a United States courtroom, there are many participants who contribute to the goal of justice for all. The judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, defendant, victims, witnesses, jurors, bailiff, and court reporter are each participants in the courtroom workgroup. Although every participant plays a different role in the process, they each contribute to the courts general objective of ensuring that the legal system remains fair, efficient, and effective to those individuals accused of committing a crime. A judge’s role is essential to court proceedings. He or she is responsible for ensuring the court proceedings are legal, and that the defendant receives his or her rights of due process. The judge does this by setting the rules of the courtroom and acting as a referee between opposing council. Although a judges’ most visible role is during a criminal or civil trial, he or she has many responsibilities outside of this setting. Prior to any court hearing, the judge is responsible for signing search and arrest warrants. Judges also deal with the issue of bail once established that there is enough evidence to hold a criminal trial against the defendant during the preliminary hearing. Judges decide on whether to grant bail, and if so at what amount and on what conditions. If any of the conditions are broken...
Words: 3832 - Pages: 16
...The American Court System Behind Closed Doors America first established its judiciary system around the same time the 13 British Colonies became established as individual territories. When it came down to it, Federalist battled Anti-federalist over the writing of the Constitution of the United States. The Anti- Federalist were opposed to the idea of a one centralized government while the Federalists on the other hand were all for a centralized government. What came next was the establishing of the Judicial Branch known as Article III. The start of the first court system came along with Congress passing, The Judiciary Act of 1789. The act established the United States circuit courts which were also known to be United States federal courts and were located in each of the federal judicial districts. The act also established the United States Supreme Court and its justices. It wasn’t until 1912, that the district courts became exercised and became the new federal trial courts replacing the circuit courts as original jurisdiction. Circuit courts became known as federal court of appeals. They no longer have the right to try a case first, which is now the district courts role in the judicial system. With 13 circuit courts and 93 federal judicial districts the two courts make up most of the judicial system in our country. That’s why it is imperative that we know the differences and the similarities between each court. After observing both courts for about 5 or so hours, I really...
Words: 3344 - Pages: 14
...Courtroom Workgroup Bobbi Knapp CJA/204 August 3, 2015 A. Michael DeFranco Courtroom Workgroup The courtroom work group entails courtroom personnel including the judge, the bailiff, the court reporter, the clerk of court, the local court administrator, prosecuting attorney, the defenses counsel and expert witnesses. This group of individuals have frequent an ongoing interactions on a daily basis. As each member of the courtroom workgroup fulfill the duties their profession expects, they are bonded by their unanimous singular goal; to see justice prevail. All workgroup members are influenced by other members and have influence on other members of the workgroup. Stable and familiar relationships among members of the group are more likely to lead to stable and familiar close working relationships. This is more likely to lead to fewer formalities, less formal arrangements and better negotiations. The prosecutor is an imperative member of the courtroom workgroup. The prosecutor, more commonly known as the district attorney, is responsible for presenting the state’s case against the defendant and with the considerable prosecutorial discretion the position affords, singularly decides to bring charges or not against an individual in the first place. Before a prosecutor can present the state’s case, they first must decide to formally charge the accused. The codes and standards that govern the position of prosecutor hold the upmost importance on seeking justice for victims...
Words: 581 - Pages: 3
...Courtroom Players Response John Doe CJS 200 March, 13, 2012 Jane Doe Courtroom Players Response In the past week’s I have been learning the history of the American court system and courtroom work group. There are two kinds of court functions in the American criminal justice system. The system is called a dual court system consisting of federal and state court systems (Schmalleger, p. 308, 2011). In order for the court system to operate there has to be a courtroom work group. A courtroom work group is made up of the judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiffs, court clerk, expert witnesses and others who earn their living by working for the courts (Schmalleger, p. 312, 2011). A judge is a public official who is appointed or elected to govern a court of law, authorized to hear and conduct trials, and may be allowed to decide a case (Schmalleger, p. 312, 2011). The bailiff is an armed law enforcement officer who duties include making sure order is maintained in the courtroom, announcing the judge presents, calling witnesses to the stand, supervising the jury, and preventing the defendant from escaping (Schmalleger, p. 325, 2011). Court administrators are hired to make sure the court system functions run smooth by performing duties such as budget management, track long cases, and analyze case flow (Schmalleger, p. 326, 2011). The court reporter takes record of everything that happens inside the courtroom. Some of the things the courtroom reporter records are the...
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
