Exploring the Complexities of Criminal Justice

Book excerpt: In democratic societies with criminal justice, a suspected individual is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable and sensible doubt. Yet the media and the public—and sometimes also the police and prosecution—may pass a verdict of guilt by blaming and shaming independent of potential evidence and proof. Rumors, allegations, accusations, and other forms of unsubstantiated claims are allowed to surface and form a basis for the guilt conclusion. It is important to explore the complexities of criminal justice and challenge these harmful tendencies. Exploring the Complexities of Criminal Justice discusses a number of cases where named individuals are convicted in public long before they eventually receive a final verdict from a court of justice. The scope of this book is to provide a comprehensive view of several case studies and several ties to convenience theory. Covering topics such as corporate crime, corruption court cases, and investigation, this book is an excellent resource for criminal justice professionals, legal scholars and academicians, journalist and media professionals, policymakers, and more.