^{Photo by EKATERINA  BOLOVTSOVA}

The design built around Lady justice was supposed to represent a perfect system. But the question is, does she reflect the realities of justice today, or will her impartiality remain ideal? 

What Lady Justice Holds in Her Hands

The scales the lady justice is lifting with one arm symbolize the evidence presented to the court. Whichever has more weight upon presenting their case, the ranking will tip in the heavier side’s favor. On the other hand, the sword she wields depicts authoritative finality. It is a concept that explains the justice system’s power to enforce laws that punish the ones in the wrong and spare the ones in the right. Her sword points directly at the

She is a long-standing symbol of the rule of law. Her blindfolded eyes precede the impartiality of the heavenly court as they commence with a trial. This implies that the system should do justice with zero bias and fair results. Drake Alexander explores how sometimes; the system can be an enabler of bias in the current society.

It’s hard to map out what needs to be done when addressing national crime rates, not to mention the prison population buildup and police brutality. What would it take to convince the public that the justice system works to protect the peace and order in this country?

Taking a Look at the Rotten Criminal Justice System

Reality is unfair. It’s the hardest pill to swallow, especially in the society that we live in. The American criminal justice system is an example of how things are done under the table and the way that heinous crimes committed by the most influential individuals can be wiped clean with the right amount of rigging. So instead of criticizing the citizens’ outcry for change and fairness, let’s see why they are angry from their perspective. Let’s carefully examine if the blindfolded eyes of lady justice mean something else – if it meant turning both blind eyes away from the rotten parts of the system.

It might seem off-putting to witness how protesters resort to lawlessness even if the state is against it. Their appeal comes from a place of deep-seated hurt and being done with the way the state has oppressed them instead of providing them the help they need. We need to understand where all this is coming from, and maybe we can start asking ourselves if we still believe in what the lady justice stands for.

Too Much Criminalization

What should be the criminal justice system’s role in a democratic society? They built the criminal justice system to implement proper punishment for acts that disrupt and threaten the order of civil society.

Because different states have varying laws, it’s essential to take note of the ones you need to abide by the most, no matter how ridiculous they might be. For instance, an ordinance in Shreveport, LA, states that saggy pants are forbidden. More than 700 arrests have been made due to violating that menial law, which has been around for 12 years, with over 96 percent comprising black men. It is a conflicting issue that escalated into the police killing a man in the middle of arresting him for violating that same law. It was until that incident that lawmakers finally repealed the law.

It is inherently wrong to use violence against someone without proper justification, even if that person rightfully committed a crime. They have to be aware of their rights since they’re still members of our society. Applying state violence often sheds the system in a bad light, more than highlighting their authoritative influence.

Understanding The Fundamental Rottenness

There isn’t much more to say about how the American criminal justice system is rotten. Its dysfunctional effects are most felt by the marginalized, the politically disenfranchised, who had to endure systemic oppression and bear the brunt of the constitution that was supposed to protect them and acknowledge their rights. The fact that those disparities exist should make us wonder if the lady justice being blindfolded signifies impartiality or if she chose to turn both of her eyes away. The root of the problem has long been there, but the lack of action frustrates the road to change.