The “Problem” with Social Justice 

Hello, fellow Verons!

This week, Mr. Thomas Giovanni engaged us all in a deeply perceptive discourse as we toured the Manhattan Criminal Court. We had the chance to learn more about the criminal justice system in New York City by observing first-hand how arraignments are processed in courts and defendants are treated, as well as being informed on specific technicalities that affect the defendants and their families as they go through the system.

Among the many topics that came up during the day are the holistic treatment of the defendants, racial and economic disparity (between the population of the defendants and the prosecutors), and economic inequality (which pervades much of the process and outcome of legal proceedings). The last two are seen being the “elephant in the room.” Well, “elephants in the tent,” I’d rather say, as one of my professors tweaked the phrase.

 Furthermore, we were again made to realize that in a justice system that supposedly honors the culture of evidence and not on forcing confessions out of the defendants, one’s moral principle of integrity can become compromised when facing charges. To elaborate, it was the essence of the little “quiz” that Mr. Giovanni had us think about, whether you would confess your guilt to a crime that you know you did not commit in the face of two choices:

 • If you commit to preserving your moral integrity and plead not guilty, you risk yourself to facing the burden of proof and fighting your way through the legal proceeding while remaining in jail all the while (keep in mind the fact that you can not only lose your job, but your future prospects of employment becomes seriously affected), and;

• If you plead guilty, the tendency could be that you will serve a shorter sentence (or get ordered to attend some programs) and eventually get out jail on a much quicker pace.

As we can see, it becomes a lose-lose situation, an instance where we can say that a defendant is forced (due to having been a victim of structural violence) to choose between the lesser of two evils. Regardless, the defendant’s chances of getting a fair trial to prove innocence or guilt are significantly compromised. The way the system works then paints the people as both the suspects to blame and convict and the victims to admonish for feeling “victimhood.”

This way, we see how the system is flawed. Although it is not true for all times and situations, it appears as though the system exists to serve itself instead of the people. For young social justice advocates like us, the vision that we could effect a significant reform becomes somehow blurred and our hope can sometimes falter, given the seemingly formidable hurdles in the system/s we work in.

With these thoughts in mind, here are some questions I have for you:

Please remind us once again: what is the most significant social justice issue for you? With that issue in mind and the movement or efforts to combat it, identify one thing that you consider the most difficult obstacle to overcome within “the interlocking systems of injustice.” Put simply, what is it that sometimes challenges your belief that the reform/change you want to effect can eventually come into fruition? 

Considering that the question may be too broad, as an alternative, I suggest considering your experience at the agency of your respective placements thus far. As both observer and active participant in the agency, what have you seen and identified as being a factor that still makes it difficult for your clients overcome the problem that they have when they come to your agency? I ask these questions to help us look through the system we’re currently working with. What works? What doesn’t? What would you suggest as a move to help alleviate the problem that you see? 

I am of opinion that vigilance is the key to staying aware and focused on the causes that we rally ourselves behind.

With that little mental note, let us all do some detective work! I look forward to hearing what you think!