Crackshot: now, that was a good post. And one with which most will readily agree, myself included. Sentencing guidelines and pleaing down charges are a major problem, IMO. I'm a firm believer in capital punishment for various crimes, including the mentally "sick" pedophile for which there is no other cure. Too, I am appalled by how slowly the wheels of justice turn in capital cases and the extraordinary concern we have for executing in a "humane" and dignified manner, whereas, nothing is wrong with hanging or the firing squad and public executions, IMO. Here's another thought or two for consideration that may strike responsive cords.

Most everyone I know that gets a call to jury duty will go to extremes to avoid serving. The excuses are many, but, often monetary in the final analysis. Some jury cases can extend for months on end. This is one area that needs revision.

Perhaps, empaneled jurists should get more money and per diem? If jury duty compensated at the normal earning rate of the individual, maybe a few more would be inclined to perform such civic duty. As such, maybe we would get higher quality in the jury that would return higher quality verdicts in return. Perhaps, eliminating plea bargains for felony level crimes would result in keeping miscreants out of the public for longer time periods. It would cost more money to do this, but, in the long run, I believe it would mean a savings of money and a more refined level of involvement by each of us.

Handloader wrote:

Perhaps, empaneled jurists should get more money and per diem? If jury duty compensated at the normal earning rate of the individual, maybe a few more would be inclined to perform such civic duty. As such, maybe we would get higher quality in the jury that would return higher quality verdicts in return. Perhaps, eliminating plea bargains for felony level crimes would result in keeping miscreants out of the public for longer time periods. It would cost more money to do this, but, in the long run, I believe it would mean a savings of money and a more refined level of involvement by each of us.

Thats a good point. Here in MD ya get $20.00 a day. The company I work for won't reinburse ANYTHING so I either take a beatin or use vac time .
Joe

The wife was put on a jury last year and lost 2 weeks vacation and only got $20.00 a day from the court for the trouble . That did not even cover the gas drving back and forth for it.

The company that I retired from would pay you an 8 hour day for each day you were in the jury box, but you had to give them what the court paid you. I thought that was how all companies did it...Wrongo again I guess.

Bushmaster wrote:

The company that I retired from would pay you an 8 hour day for each day you were in the jury box, but you had to give them what the court paid you. I thought that was how all companies did it...Wrongo again I guess.

Not uncommon for an employer to do something similar out here. They will pay you your normal salary/wage less the court allowance.

Cheers, Vince

I used to be all for capitol punishment when I was younger, but the older I got, I saw low income people who couldn't afford good attorneys, get the death penalty, and well to do people get off with shysters representing them.
Also too many people are being found innocent because of DNA, and once a person is executed, it's pretty hard to bring him or her back to life, and set them free.
Being against abortion also means being against the death penalty. Send them up for life without parole, and let God determine when they should die.
Hard work never hurt nobody, so work the snot out of them.

Eric

Put them in Uniforms with targets sewn on them, Give them BB guns and send them to Iraq and afganistan.
Bring our young soldiers home to watch the US borders!

Now there's a thought. I've often thought that for a lot of the semi-serious crimes (big theft, no one hurt of killed kind of things, repeat offenders) that the Canadian government could take guys out by chopper into the middle of the Northwest Territories and drop them off, one at a time, different locations (check out a map guys, there's plenty of room) Give them a couple of matches, a piece of string and a pocket knife. If they can make it home, they've served their sentence.