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Post by sclcookie on May 21, 2006 3:01:59 GMT -5
many pros say that a "fair trial" is good enough for them for someone to be executed?
What is fair? Everyone has a different opinion about that one also. Each state/government body has a different definition.
What's even worse is after a "fair trial", we are allow our appeal process here in the united states, however, some pros seem to think Death Row inmates don't deserve such, even though some Death Row inmates have been exonerated after being proven actual or factual innocence.
I'll never get why some pros are okay with the risk, even though a "fair trial" doesn't necessarily mean that person is actually and/or factually guilty.
hugggz, Suzanne
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Post by oztash on May 21, 2006 4:30:06 GMT -5
Excellant post suzane I dont think we will ever understand some of the pros....I find it hard to understand how they can be comfortable with exceuting an innocent man/women...They seam to believe that if a court of law and jury found them juilty than the person is 100% juilty no questions asked....Wakey Wakey pros that just isnt the cause for most dr inmates.....There is always more to a case than mets the eye, than what the media will lead you to believe.... Just my 2 cents Tasha
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Post by sclcookie on May 21, 2006 18:11:18 GMT -5
Below is an example of our corrupt justice system:
Legal web ensnares Slaton police force
An investigation into police corruption in Slaton could topple the cases built by the police department, depending on the outcome of litigation that has entangled nearly 1/2 the city's officers.
Since March, the Texas Rangers have filed criminal charges against 1 Slaton officer, they are assisting the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney's Office with the investigation of another, and that officer is suing the city of Slaton, the police chief and a police supervisor alleging that he was railroaded out of a job.
The number of police officers involved in the disputes - 4 of the department's 10 officers - has caused concerns among prosecutors.
"It's an ugly situation," Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney Matt Powell said. "And it keeps getting worse and worse."
Although no Slaton officer has been convicted of any crime associated with the investigations, the issues addressed by the Rangers and the Slaton Police Department, and the civil suit filed by former officer Billy Chandler could affect cases before the Lubbock County courts.
Chuck Lanehart, a longtime Lubbock criminal defense attorney, said that criminal cases hinge on the credibility of an investigating officer and that any actions taken by an officer that cause a juror to question that credibility could destroy a prosecutor's case.
According to reports by the Texas Rangers, a host of citizen complaints against Slaton police Officer Kris Ramos, 33, fueled a criminal investigation that ultimately led to the officer's arrest on a domestic violence charge two months ago.
The officer was accused of beating his wife in 2004; however, the Slaton Police Department did not investigate the crime or formerly present the case to the Criminal District Attorney's Office, according to Ranger reports.
Also included in the report are allegations by other officers that Ramos was too aggressive, harassed people and would stop cars without cause.
Slaton Police Chief Jeff Creager said his officers handled the reported assault like they would any other incident.
He admits the photographs of the woman's injuries were misplaced and that he called in a chaplain to counsel the couple, but he maintains that the department acted appropriately.
He didn't know what would lead Rangers to arrest the officer years later.
"They must have had something that I didn't," Creager said.
Tony Arnold, the Ranger who investigated Ramos, said that he could not comment on specifics of the case; however, he said he did not know what would be available during the subsequent investigation that was not available at the scene of the incident.
Ramos remains suspended from the Slaton Police Department, but before his suspension he lodged complaints against Chandler, a Slaton police sergeant and patrol supervisor.
In a letter to the police department, Ramos accuses Chandler, 45, of sparking the Rangers' investigation and violating police procedure through unethical and unprofessional behavior.
Creager ordered an internal investigation of Chandler on Feb. 20, the same day he received Ramos' letter and a week after Chandler was interviewed by the Rangers.
The investigation - which ultimately led to Chandler's resignation and to the police department presenting felony charges against the officer - revealed that Chandler misstated the number of hours he worked.
According to the internal investigation report, Chandler billed the department for more hours than he worked and sometimes worked more hours than what he told the department.
The department recommended that Chandler be demoted, take a pay cut, and that he be temporarily suspended.
The report also alleged that Chandler discussed Ramos' behavior in public and that Ramos did not understand traffic laws.
In addition to an internal investigation, the department brought Chandler's case to the attention of the Criminal District Attorney's Office.
The department accused Chandler of tampering with government documents. The case will be presented to a Lubbock County grand jury later this month.
"I can't control where an investigation leads," Creager said. "But I'm not going to cover anything up."
Chandler, in turn, sued the city, asserting that the department retaliated against him for cooperating with Rangers.
He also claims that once he tendered his resignation, Creager ordered pizzas and threw a party at the police station, according to court records.
City officials said that Chandler resigned his post voluntarily and that he suffered no ill effects from any disciplinary action because none was taken.
Chandler appealed the case to the city, which sided with him, pending the outcome of Ramos' criminal case.
Jeff Blackburn, a civil rights attorney in Lubbock, said that this is an intolerable amount of allegations against the small police department and attorneys defending their clients will have the right to question the motives behind any officer's testimony.
"This type of systemic corruption is going to affect every action that this police department takes unless some sort of top-down change is made," he said, adding that the city could establish a citizen review board to oversee the department.
City Administrator Roger McKinney said that Slaton officials will address the issues with the department, if necessary, but currently all litigation is pending.
"I think overall we have a good police department," he said.
Lanehart said that a creative defense attorney could argue that the whole department was corrupt.
"Defense attorneys salivate when they have a client investigated by the Slaton Police Department, and prosecutors cringe," he said.
Powell said that most officers in Slaton do the right things for the right reasons and that prosecutors will address problems as they arise.
(source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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