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Full-Text Articles in Law
From Sounds Bites To Sound Policy: Reclaiming The High Ground In Criminal Justice Policy-Making, Anthony C. Thompson
From Sounds Bites To Sound Policy: Reclaiming The High Ground In Criminal Justice Policy-Making, Anthony C. Thompson
Fordham Urban Law Journal
In this article, the author contemplates the way the criminal justice system is portrayed in the media and suggests how the media's emphasis on "sound bites" - which makes it difficult to separate fact from hype - has had significant policy ramifications. The author makes a point of exploring the many ways that conceptions of crime are formed and influenced, as well as how the media has shaped legislation. In the author's opinion, in order to curb the excessive influence of most mainstream representations of the criminal justice system, there must be some mechanism for oversight of both the media …
Inherently Female Cases Of Child Abuse And Neglect: A Gender-Neutral Analysis, Suzanne D'Amico
Inherently Female Cases Of Child Abuse And Neglect: A Gender-Neutral Analysis, Suzanne D'Amico
Fordham Urban Law Journal
Tabitha Walrond was a young mother who was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide after her two-month-old son died from malnutrition. This Comment examines how the portrayal of Ms. Walrond by the defense and prosecution, and in the media reflects gender stereotypes in the criminal law and society. The Comment posits the notion that Ms. Walrond was portrayed as either a good or bad mother and once so labeled, the judge, jury and prosecution view her as such, while ignoring her specific situation. As a result, a defendant such as Ms. Walrond may be treated either too harshly or too …
To Act Or Not To Act: Will New York's Defeated Death Penalty Be Resurrected? , Diana N. Huffman
To Act Or Not To Act: Will New York's Defeated Death Penalty Be Resurrected? , Diana N. Huffman
Fordham Urban Law Journal
Capital punishment has always been a topic of controversy in the United States. The debate about the death penalty, its value as a way to permanently incapacitate society's most dangerous criminals and its effectiveness as a deterrent to violent crime, has increased. This phenomenon is particularly visible in New York State, where, in 2004, the New York Court of Appeals struck down the State's death penalty statute as invalid under the New York Constitution. This Note describes the evolution of New York's 1995 death penalty statute, analyzing the way in which the state legislature could respond to the statute's unconstitutionality, …
Too Little, Too Late: Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel, The Duty To Investigate, And Pretrial Discovery In Criminal Cases, Jenny Roberts
Too Little, Too Late: Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel, The Duty To Investigate, And Pretrial Discovery In Criminal Cases, Jenny Roberts
Fordham Urban Law Journal
Unlike rules governing discovery in civil cases, which require that the two sides exchange most information about their respective cases, criminal discovery result in a much more limited flow of information. Many commentators, for many years, have called for the liberalization of criminal discovery statutes and rules. Indeed, some states have heeded the call. But about a dozen states follow the highly restrictive federal rule, which is premised in part on the idea that a defendant should not be entitled to witness names or statements for pretrial investigation, but rather only for cross-examination purposes should the case ever get to …
Transformative Criminal Defense Practice: Truth, Love, And Individual Rights- The Innovative Approach Of The Georgia Justice Project, Douglas Ammar, Tosha Downey
Transformative Criminal Defense Practice: Truth, Love, And Individual Rights- The Innovative Approach Of The Georgia Justice Project, Douglas Ammar, Tosha Downey
Fordham Urban Law Journal
Georgia Justice Project has a unique approach to criminal defense and rehabilitation which is based on a relationship and community-oriented ethic. Focused on only accepting clients who are willing to make a serious commitment to changing their lives, the GJP ensures that the client moves beyond social, emotional and personal challenges that contributed to their legal problems. This article describes the unique factors of the GJP that have contributed to its continued success.
"Forgive Me Victim For I Have Sinned": Why Repentance And The Criminal Justice System Do Not Mix - A Lesson From Jewish Law, Cheryl G. Bader
"Forgive Me Victim For I Have Sinned": Why Repentance And The Criminal Justice System Do Not Mix - A Lesson From Jewish Law, Cheryl G. Bader
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This essay will critique the Georgia Justice Project's encouragement of confessions in the context of the secular American justice system via comparison with the treatment of confessions under ancient Jewish law. Specifically, this essay posits that the absolute prohibition on the use of confessions in a legal system firmly rooted in religious values recognizes the danger inherent in combining the act of speaking of one's sins for religious penance with the use of such confessions in the criminal adjudication process. The Jewish legal system avoids these inherent dangers by completely devaluing the accused's confession. The GJP, in contrast, merges the …
Undertaking The Task Of Reforming The American Character Evidence Prohibition: The Importance Of Getting The Experiment Off On The Right Foot, Edward J. Imwinkelried
Undertaking The Task Of Reforming The American Character Evidence Prohibition: The Importance Of Getting The Experiment Off On The Right Foot, Edward J. Imwinkelried
Fordham Urban Law Journal
The United States Congress and the State Legislatures of Indiana and Missouri have chosen illogical starting points in their experiments to reform the prohibition against introducing character evidence in criminal cases. Rather than start by allowing the introduction of past crimes with high recidivism rates such as burglary, these legislatures have chosen crimes with minimal probative value as predictors of the accused's conduct. By allowing the the introduction of criminal history in regard to criminal sexual conduct and child molestation, these legislatures increase the risk of wrongful conviction due to the disdain with which the average citizen views these types …
Federal Rules Of Evidence And The Political Process, David P. Leonard
Federal Rules Of Evidence And The Political Process, David P. Leonard
Fordham Urban Law Journal
An important tenet of American evidence law is the strict regulation on the introduction of character evidence. This principal has begun to be chipped away at through the adoption of amendments that allow character evidence to be introduced in certain types of cases. The Federal Rules of Evidence were subject to very little amendment during their first 20 years of use, and have always represented a blend of conservatism about evidence law and political compromise. This tension has been kept in check until the proposal of Rules 413-415, which represents a concession to the politicization of the rules. Before imposing …
Shots Across No Man's Land: A Response To Handgun Control, Inc.'S, Richard Aborn, Nicholas J. Johnson
Shots Across No Man's Land: A Response To Handgun Control, Inc.'S, Richard Aborn, Nicholas J. Johnson
Fordham Urban Law Journal
In response to Richard Aborn's article "The Battle Over the Brady Bill and the Future of Gun Control Advocacy, Johnson argues that Aborn's "bad gun formula" trivializes the Second Amendment, ignores issues vital to the gun control debate, and obfuscates what should ultimately need to be a choice between an armed citizenry or a disarmed one. Aborn's article suggests no real changes and does not effectively advance the debate.
The Battle Over The Brady Bill And The Future Of Gun Control Advocacy, Richard M. Aborn
The Battle Over The Brady Bill And The Future Of Gun Control Advocacy, Richard M. Aborn
Fordham Urban Law Journal
No matter how effective a legislative scheme is, legislation alone will not eradicate the deeply rooted culture of gun violence that exists in this country. Accordingly, Handgun Control divides its efforts between legislative and non-legislative efforts. In this regard, the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence carries out the non-legislative interventions of Handgun Control. These efforts include working with elementary, secondary and high schools to promote a gun violence reduction curriculum; litigating on behalf of gun victims; defending gun control legislation in the courts; working with the entertainment industry concerning the messages in popular entertainment about gun violence; and working with …
The Urban Crimnal Justice System: A Case Of Fairness, John F. Keenan
The Urban Crimnal Justice System: A Case Of Fairness, John F. Keenan
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This short essay contains the presiding judges recollections of the case People v. Robles as a way to discuss public perception of fairness in the criminal justice system.
The High Cost Of Juvenile Justice, Diane Ridley Gatewood
The High Cost Of Juvenile Justice, Diane Ridley Gatewood
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This Essay will discuss the high cost of incarcerating substantial numbers of minority juveniles and will advocate alternatives to detention. The author discusses how minority youth are disproportionately affected at multiple stages of the criminal justice process: arrests, detentions, adjudication, and disposition. The Essay further discusses the increased use of the prison system for juveniles. The Essay concludes with several recommendations for how minority youth can be treated more fairly within the system and recommends alternatives to incarceration.
A Moral Standard For The Prosecutor's Exercise Of The Charging Discretion, Bennett L. Gershman
A Moral Standard For The Prosecutor's Exercise Of The Charging Discretion, Bennett L. Gershman
Fordham Urban Law Journal
The prosecutor's decision to institute criminal charges is the broadest and least regulated power in American criminal law. The judicial deference shown to prosecutors generally is most noticeable with respect to the charging function. This Essay discusses three hypothetical cases that present both realistic and recurring challenges to the prosecutor's charging power. The first case depends on a factual determination of a witness's reliability. The second case depends on a factual determination of the witness's truthfulness. The third case revolves around a legal determination regarding the applicability of a defense. Together, these cases provide a setting in which a moral …
"A Good Murder", Leigh B. Bienen
"A Good Murder", Leigh B. Bienen
Fordham Urban Law Journal
People are profoundly interested in crimes because the law and legal punishments are supposed to address the fundamental human craving for justice. Courts are embedded in this system of law because we do not rust individuals alone or groups to judge fairly. This essay will describe a pattern which emerged when researchers examined all homicide cases in the state of New Jersey during the years immediately after the reimposition of capital punishment in 1982. Particularly relevant is the pattern of capital punishment for urban and suburban murders, and how those cases were regarded by law enforcement, the media, and the …
The Urban Criminal Justice System: Where Young + Black + Male = Probable Cause, Elizabeth A. Gaynes
The Urban Criminal Justice System: Where Young + Black + Male = Probable Cause, Elizabeth A. Gaynes
Fordham Urban Law Journal
We live in a country where one out of four young African-American men is under some form of custodial supervision. In our nation's capital, seven out of ten African-American men can anticipate being arrested and jailed at least once before reaching the age of thirty-five. We live in a city where a black man between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four is far more likely to die of homicide than all other causes combined. The official response to the problem of urban crime by minority youth has been prison, prison, and more prison. This essay provides an overview and examples …
Felony Murder And The Misdemeanor Of Attempted Escape: A Legislative Error In Search Of Correction, Peter J. Mcquillan
Felony Murder And The Misdemeanor Of Attempted Escape: A Legislative Error In Search Of Correction, Peter J. Mcquillan
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This article argues that a legislative reconsideration of the New York felony murder doctrine is timely and essential. The author traces the origins of New York's felony murder statute and recent efforts to limit its scope. The author argues that the felony murder doctrine contravenes the modern philosophy of adjudication based on subjective factors such as mens rea, eroding the link between criminal liability and moral culpability.
Municipal Tort Liability For Criminal Attacks Against Passengers On Mass Transportation, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic
Municipal Tort Liability For Criminal Attacks Against Passengers On Mass Transportation, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic, Robert S. Ondrovic
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This Note discusses municipal tort liability for criminal attacks against passengers. The analysis focuses upon the liability of the New York City Transit Authority (TA). Comparisons are made to other mass transit systems in order to examine various theories concerning the duty owed by the municipally-run transit system to its passengers. Recommendations are offered to construct a clear standard of care with corresponding limits on liability. Further, this Note discusses various safety measures and will analyze the issues of whether the TA has assumed a duty to protect its passengers by developing such measures to combat subway crime and the …
Proposal For Determinate Sentencing In New York: The Effect On An Offender's Due Process Rights, John D. Winter
Proposal For Determinate Sentencing In New York: The Effect On An Offender's Due Process Rights, John D. Winter
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This Note examines the differences between indeterminate sentencing, the goal of which is rehabilitative, and determinate sentencing. It looks at the constitutional and procedural safeguards due to prisoners at sentencing. Finally, the Note looks at legislation introduced in New York and its proposals for changing the sentencing procedures.
Criminal Law - Right To Counsel - Custodial Criminal Defendant May Not Waive Right To Counsel In The Absence Of His Court-Appointed Attorney, Stuart J. Feld
Criminal Law - Right To Counsel - Custodial Criminal Defendant May Not Waive Right To Counsel In The Absence Of His Court-Appointed Attorney, Stuart J. Feld
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This case note examines the New York Court of Appeals' decision in People v. Hobson, 39 N.Y.2d 479, 348 N.E.2d 894, 384 N.Y.S.2d 419 (1976), which held that once a counsel has been engaged in a criminal proceeding a defendant may not waive his right to counsel when his lawyer is not present. The case note discusses the evolution in protection levels afforded defendants in New York as well as in decisions by the United States Supreme Court and suggests that the Hobson decision's impact is enormous as it resurrects two important pro-defendant rules that were previously overruled. The Hobson …
Criminal Law - Counsel - Court-Appointed Attorney Held Absolutely Immune From Suit Under Federal Civil Rights Statute, William A. Cahill, Jr.
Criminal Law - Counsel - Court-Appointed Attorney Held Absolutely Immune From Suit Under Federal Civil Rights Statute, William A. Cahill, Jr.
Fordham Urban Law Journal
E. George Minns, a Virginia state prisoner, brought an action against his court-appointed attorney, alleging that his attorney, while acting under color of state law, had deprived him of rights guaranteed under the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution. Specifically, Minns alleged that his court-appointed attorney denied him assistance in filing a petition for habeas corpus. Minns brought the suit under section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, which gives a private right of action against every person who, under color of law, deprives another person of his or her Constitutional rights, privileges, or immunities. The district court dismissed …
Book Review: Denial Of Justice: Criminal Process In The United States, Thomas G. Roth
Book Review: Denial Of Justice: Criminal Process In The United States, Thomas G. Roth
Fordham Urban Law Journal
Thomas G. Roth reviews Denial of Justice: Criminal Process in the United States by Lloyd L. Weinreb. In his book, Lloyd L. Weinreb argues persuasively that American criminal process not only falls short of being the best there is, but it denies us a system which we can properly call "just." Weinreb's work is divided into two sections. The first part, which comprises the bulk of the book, explains how criminal process works and, more significantly, how it has failed to achieve effectively the goals for which it was developed. In the second part, he describes in general theory an …