I have first-hand experience in this area. Someone close to me was accused of a crime she didn't commit. The police officer was hell bent on arresting her on the worst possible charge. At her initial hearing, the public defenders were flippant and detached, and generally unhelpful. After she hired a criminal defense lawyer, he more or less forced her to take a crappy plea deal that he negotiated (and made the prosecutors look like winners). If she did not, it would mean tens of thousands of dollars to defend herself.
The flaws I personally witnessed through the ordeal:
1. The police have arrest quotas, and enormous pressure to "make the arrest" regardless of the cost, or whether the person is actually guilty.
2. Criminal defense lawyers love the system as-is and will fight to protect it. More arrests mean more business. An absolute worst conflict of interest that you can imagine.
3. Public defenders will do the minimum amount of work, and will always strong-arm you to take a plea deal.
4. The whole system is rigged against you. You are guilty the moment you first enter the court room. Nobody cares whether you are really guilty or not - judges, lawyers, prosecutors, clerks, cops.
5. The worst part of all - there is a strong groupthink among these power players. They wholeheartedly believe they are living gods, protecting the world from societies ills.
My hope is that one day there is true criminal justice reform. The fact that America has the largest incarceration rate is a red flag.
The flaws I personally witnessed through the ordeal:
1. The police have arrest quotas, and enormous pressure to "make the arrest" regardless of the cost, or whether the person is actually guilty.
2. Criminal defense lawyers love the system as-is and will fight to protect it. More arrests mean more business. An absolute worst conflict of interest that you can imagine.
3. Public defenders will do the minimum amount of work, and will always strong-arm you to take a plea deal.
4. The whole system is rigged against you. You are guilty the moment you first enter the court room. Nobody cares whether you are really guilty or not - judges, lawyers, prosecutors, clerks, cops.
5. The worst part of all - there is a strong groupthink among these power players. They wholeheartedly believe they are living gods, protecting the world from societies ills.
My hope is that one day there is true criminal justice reform. The fact that America has the largest incarceration rate is a red flag.