Youth / OPINION : ‘The Justice System Does Try to Be Fair’

JESSICA YADEGARAN

Junior, 17, Laguna Beach High School

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”

I first recited these words as a member of the sixth-grade chorus at Stone Creek Elementary School in Irvine and thought they were the most beautiful group of words I had ever heard. Now, a few years later, I still recall each note and beat.

Today, “establishing justice” and “securing the business of liberty,” are the timeless building blocks of this nation. A justice system unbiased by color, creed, race or sex is the aspiration of any modern, democratic country. A suspect shall always remain innocent until proven guilty and has the right to a fair trial. The innocent man who is beaten incessantly will not suffer alone. For the non-believers: The justice system shines brightly through the eyes of the youth. . . . It must, for ourselves and our posterity.

ELATHEN WALTON

Senior, 18, Belmont High, Los Angeles

Under the law all men and women are created equal. But sometimes there are incidents that we find unjustice in our legal system. However, for the most part, I think our legal system tries to be fair to all races, and most of the time it is. But it seems to me that whenever a member of “our” race is on trial we begin to search for injustice.

SARA NORIEGA

Senior, 17, Blair High School, Pasadena

Most people are conscious that the U.S. legal system is fair “on paper,” but justice is not administered correctly, and this is why injustice and racism exist in our society. For such a long time, there have been many forms of discrimination by whites against African-Americans and Latinos. The riots that occurred last year in Los Angeles and in the surrounding areas are the result of these problems. The government gives us the perception that it is doing the best it can to solve the problem, but the results have not been good.

ANDREA DAVIS

Senior, 17, Sante Fe High School, Sante Fe Springs

Let’s begin with women and the way they are treated in rape trials. They protect males by saying you can’t bring in things about previous crimes. There shouldn’t be a question about a female’s past sexual reputation. Is this justice? Women who have been raped, in most cases, are so afraid to testify in our justice system because they are afraid of the way they will be portrayed. They are treated like they are sluts.

In other issues, justice is not fair when dealing with minorities and middle- and upper-middle class people. If the Lakewood High (Spur Posse) incident was committed by minorities, you can bet that there would have been a lot of convictions. No, justice is not colorblind.

CLAUDIA GOMEZ

Senior, 17, Belmont High

Everyone in the United States may not be treated equally, but I believe the justice system does try to be fair to all. In other countries, such as South Africa, we can see in apartheid the lack of equal treatment. The U.S. legal system may not be perfect, but at least it gives every American citizen--no matter their race, creed or sex--a fair chance. An example of the American legal system was the Rodney King (civil-rights) trial. Four men were tried, two found guilty and two innocent. Many believed all should have been punished, but the U.S. Constitution gives every citizen a fair trial. In no other country will you find laws that protect people like they do in America.

SARAH PRICE

Senior, 17, Helix High School, La Mesa

Whether the justice system is fair or unfair is not the question. The much larger question is whether this country’s justice system is just or unjust. To the criminal that is prosecuted, the system is unfair. To the criminal set free, the system is fair. To the victim and the family of the victim, fair is whether the accused is found guilty. In all, I do believe our country’s justice system is just. Sometimes it’s the people who run it who are not.

NICOLE MCTRUSTY

Senior, 17, Helix High

I feel the justice system is fair. And I think the best example is the recent Rodney King trial. Though it took a while, the sentencing was fair and the decisions were made as set up by the Constitution. In the end, justice did prevail.

But while our justice system is fair, I still believe we need to toughen our punishments toward crimes such as rape and domestic violence. These crimes, which in most cases are carried out against women, should carry severe punishment.

GABRIEL VILLARREAL

Junior, 17, Sante Fe High

The legal system in this country is definitely unfair. Minorities unfortunately are generalized when it comes to justice. The courts often see Latinos, for example, as gangbanging criminals when only a minority of them are. Blacks are also treated as crack-dealing animals. It’s unbelievably unfair.

The metropolitan areas of our country are constantly changing their demographics: Los Angeles is mostly Latino now. It would seem that the court system on the whole is biased against minorities for the simple fact that judges, juries and lawyers are influenced by stereotypes. This can’t be good. The only way we can change the court system is to voice opinions in letters, demonstrations and education.