Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson

The book, Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson is a critical reflection of the injustices that are meted on the most vulnerable and poor people in the criminal justice system of the United States. In his book, Stevenson recollects on his life as a lawyer and the many issues he faced some including of veterans being denied by the criminal justice system the right to acquire the right medical and mental care, women being denied their rights even in the justice system, racial profiling and mass incarceration based on racial identities and also the overly practice on capital punishment to the poor and the weak in the society. In my view, Stevenson’s book presents an array of issues that need to be addressed even in the present day. The criminal justice system of the United States is not the justice system that it was meant to be and it is to the extreme a historical path of injustice. 

My view of the criminal justice system is that it should be just, and not inclined and neither politicized. The criminal justice system is a composition of courts of law strengthened by the law enforcement authority where justice should be delivered on nothing but exclusive reality, facts, and evidence. A criminal justice system that is not addressed using concrete evidence is therefore not a system that should be trusted. The very first chapter of the book by Stevenson shows a complete abuse of justice where people are sentenced without solid evidence (Stevenson, 2015). Stevenson, for instance, introduces the case of McMillan who is accused of murder but is treated badly by the justice system, and he ends up being sentenced regardless of the fact that there is no ample evidence. The criminal justice system of the United States, therefore, needs to be revisited in terms of the evidence in which justice is offered.  

From the book, an intricate understanding of a justice system where the poor and vulnerable have no say is explicated. In my view, the justice system is largely made to serve all people regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds. It should not be a justice system that convicts people based on their races, of economic status or even gender. However, Stevenson issues a quite new view of the justice system. It is a system that supports police brutality under the shadow of restoring peace and order. The justice system is, therefore, an avenue of racial incarcerations, support of women abuse and capital punishments to the poor (Stevenson, 2015). It is thus a justice system that has changed the face of the nation on the negative side. There is, therefore, need to make changes to the justice system if at all, justice will be delivered to the vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, Stevenson uses his experience with the justice system of the United States to highlight a chain of injustices that have been meted on the citizens especially the most vulnerable one. His book delivers touching occasions of injustice being delivered, rising mass incarcerations and increased crimes as a result. My view of the criminal justice of the United States is one that is socio-economically inclined and seeks only to support those who are in the upper echelons of the social and economic statuses. The practice is, however, extreme injustice and I think it would only be good for the nation if legislation and awareness are made towards those injustices for better delivery of justice without discrimination.  

References

Stevenson, B. (2015). Just mercy: A story of justice and redemption. Spiegel & Grau.