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Study: Only 0.3% of criminal cases end with acquittal
Telem Yahav
Published: 14.05.12, 14:32
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1. What percentage are innocent people indicted because Israels
Abraham ,   Beit El   (05.14.12)
policy in their court of injustice by self-appointed judges is GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.
2. ...and 100% of the 0.3% were actually guilty of their crimes
Taxpayer ,   Israel   (05.14.12)
while the innocents coerced into plea-bargains actually foot the bill for this system.
3. #1 worse than you think
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (05.14.12)
It's the legacy of Aharon Barak where there is no evidence or law, just a judge who decides what he thinks is correct. The "justice system" makes sure to acquit the people they want (people with protectsia or powerful friends) by not investigating or closing the case because of lack of public interest. You see how charges are not filed against brutal police or Ehud Barak. Once the "justice system" wants to get you, they threaten you with exaggerated charges so you have no choice but to accept a plea bargain. Judges will drag a case for years until the weaker party (poor or without friends friends) has no choice but to agree to whatever they tell him.
4. Country without a constitution is a feather in the wind.
Michael ,   California, USA   (05.14.12)
Admittedly, my only experience with Israeli courts was in fighting a traffic ticket when I misunderstood how the road cameras system operates. I was cited some five times for driving over the speed limit and got away by pleading once to a reduced violation and paid a hundred shekels fine. The judge seemed happy she settled five cases all at once. I understood she had more important cases to deal with in that overloaded, overcrowded courtroom. When judges have no tort laws to go by, no constitution, no solid criminal laws, they are forced to spin their wheels with every case indefinitely. Maybe it gives judges the feeling of wielding more power? But I think the judges are made to grapple with the ineptitude of lawmakers, the Knesset, who neglect to write a constitution and solidly define what Israel is about. Israel has no direction, it responds to situations as they develop, like a feather in the wind, leaving to the judges to show off their stressed-out ineptitude case by case.
5. How do you address a lawyer with a low
jason white ,   afula, israel   (05.14.12)
I.Q.? "Your Honor". You are guilty just for appearing in court. The judges have no time to hear your side of the story. They avoid the truth like a plague. They are willing to listen to a cop's side, but not the citizen's side. As farfetched as the cop's story is and conflicting with the facts, this is the truth for judges.
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