I would like to call your attention to an important research effort that you
need to be aware of -- an opportunity to include your voice in research that will greatly protect fairness in criminal sentencing.

Currently, 39 states empower a judge or jury that finds a crime "heinous," "depraved," or some other synonym for the word "evil," to mete out a more severe sentence for that crime -- including the death penalty. Yet, there are no standardized distinctions for what makes a crime "heinous." Without guidance, triers of fact are left to decide sentences on the basis of involuntary or even deliberate prejudices. Even with increased attention to injustice, prejudices continue to manifest themselves to minorities whose most "heinous" act is the color of their skin.

To combat this arbitrariness in sentencing, we are spearheading the research of the Depravity Scale, an evidence-based instrument that uses
public consensus to standardize the specific intent, action, and attitude components of a crime that distinguish it as "evil." Data from the project will develop a legal standard for "evil" crimes that is evidence-driven --
and completely separated from a person's background, race, or political beliefs.

Currently, public participation in a confidential web-based survey is ongoing at http://www.depravityscale.org. It is imperative that as many members of the African American community are represented in this study as possible. Please take this unique opportunity to directly shape the criminal justice system of the society in which we live.

If you have any questions at all, or would like a more thorough explanation of our project and its methodology, please do not hesitate to
E-mail me at LTetelbaum@forensicpanel.com.

interesting

I'm in!

Just a thought, what about pushing to unify your criminal laws as we have in Canada (Quebec only exception).

Would it not be better to have just one criminal law so that no matter where you went there was the possibility that there might be an equal application of the law? So whether in Alaska or Florida the consequence for murder would be life (30 years) as oppose to some places giving out a 20 or 100 year stretch.

quote:

Originally posted by Blacksanction:
Just a thought, what about pushing to unify your criminal laws as we have in Canada (Quebec only exception).

Would it not be better to have just one criminal law so that no matter where you went there was the possibility that there might be an equal application of the law? So whether in Alaska or Florida the consequence for murder would be life (30 years) as oppose to some places giving out a 20 or 100 year stretch.

That's asking a lot in America.

Such things are preempted by the 10th Amendment to our Constitution which says in effect that if 'it' is not specified in the constitution it is 'right' of the State to resolve that issue.

That's how all issues effecting African American-Americans as a people are 'dealt' with.

We, African American-Americans, have not yet achieved undisputable access to the voting booth under federal law.

It is still under States' Rights.

If you think that's weird from where you are, you should see from in here.

PEACE

Jim Chester