Meet with Clive Stafford Smith: Why I defend people who are guilty

[FatFriendly1]

the judicial system is merely the buffer at the end of a very long, and troubled highway. consideration of an offender has to be offset against the consideration given to any victims.

[libertinelover]

@FatFriendly1 yes.. but the notion of 'victim' is complex- most prisoners (probably around the 99% mark) in the UK were abused from a very young age. so the majority of people being brought to justice in my country at least, were themselves victims of traumatising treatment from when they were very small.

whereas politicians and bankers are hardly ever prosecuted for the ways some of them damage society...

[FatFriendly1]

@libertinelover I see your point. But, as we all know 'white collar crime' is viewed differently, although this is changing. There is a good argument for those who have indeed suffered themselves in the past. It can now be scientifically proven that those people do in fact have a disposition towards certain behaviour, and thus, crimes. Just because someone hits me, doesn't mean I am justified in hitting them back. However, if i had been a victim of past bullying, this might be seen as liberation

[jonwchapman]

Then let us just remove the image of Justitia then from every courthouse and seat of justice.

Justice is supposed to be blind...mum or not.

[libertinelover]

@jonwchapman @jonwchapman I don't know what sort of justice you have in mind but any justice system based on human rights and democratic values can't be 'blind'- it must treat people as equals under the eyes of the law and must be impartial to race, family ties, personal bias etc- but that is not the same thing as being blind.