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How U.S. Criminal Justice System could be different



Forensic science / crime labs could be independent of the police / prosecution

Missed court appointments due to uncontrolled circumstances could be considered differently

Wrongful convictions could disportionately affect women

Eyewitness identification, custodial interrogation / recording, judge bias, access to post-conviction DNA testing, evidence preservation, public defense funding / quality, plea bargains, and forensic science could improve to prevent wrongful convictions

Wrongful convictions could be overturned by DNA evidence

Violent suspects / repeat offenders could not be released easily from jail

Postpartum psychosis could be considered in law

Illegal drug dealing and shoplifting could be prosecuted

The arrest process could be changed to offer early legal representation

Intelligence agencies / law enforcement could not entrap people

U.S. "stand your ground" laws could be revised

Judges could be appointed rather than elected

The Back on Track program could be used with nonviolent offenders instead of prison

Prisoners could be able to defend themselves in courts

U.S. citizen payments to government could be easier to pay and less punitive

Prisoners could less expensively / more easily communicate with family

The criminal justice system could change for survivors of abuse

Juries could be more diverse by race, gender, and income

A duty to intervene, rules governing use of force, reporting force, predictive data, transparent police records, banning chokeholds, reforming no-knock warrants / police raids, and a stronger U.S. DOJ investigative force could improve policing

Interrogation approaches could be ethical, legal, and effective

Marijuana and other drug charges could be dropped or changed

District Attorneys, prosecutors, and judges could reform the U.S. criminal justice system

Plea bargains could reformed or not used

Participatory defense could involve families and communities in criminal trials

The U.S. could take additional steps to lower prison populations, cost, and excessive punishment

Different interrogation tactics could be used to prevent false confessions

Restorative justice could be used to help both perpetrators and victims

U.S. prisoners could receive better / less negligent healthcare

Prison release halfway houses could be redesigned, better managed, and/or not used

Prisoners could have access to Pell Grants

Counseling circles could be used in prisons

Prisons could have newspapers

Prisoners could have access to book, magazines, and newspapers

Civil asset forfeiture laws could be amended

Juveniles could not be tried, sentenced, and incarcerated as adults

Foster care could be extended past 18

Prisoners could be able to vote

Cash bail / waiting times in jail for non-violent, pretrial defendants could improve

Prisoners could not have to pay to stay in jail depending on their income level

Prosecutors and judges could be held accountable for misconduct

Mandatory minimum and three strike sentencing laws could be reformed for nonviolent offenses

Prison labor could be paid more, have labor protections, and prepare people for employment after release

Compensation could be provided to the exonerated

Juvenile detention could be improved to rehabilitate

Government agencies, schools, hospitals, police, universities, foundations, prisons, workplaces, elections, judiciary systems, and nonprofits could collect, publicize, and use citizen feedback

Forensic science could be unreliable

Independent prosecutors could handle cases of police misconduct

The U.S. rape kit backlog could be fixed

Public defender offices could be fully funded

Judges could limit pretrial detention to defendants whom pose a danger or could be flight risks

Child support orders could be based on current income and assist with job placement/retention

The death penalty could not be used

Solitary confinement in prisons could be limited or abolished