Sorry---but in this country you're guilty until proven innocent.

[trumad]

Perp walks, Richard Jewel, Fox News, Nancy Grace...

If it's big enough to make cable news, you're screwed.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

1. The media is now judge, jury and executioner

[seabeyond]

2. all of this has nothing to do with time in court, and the way system is run. nt

[still_one]

3. It has pretty much been that all along /nt

[robcon]

4. Absolute bullshit. Innocence is in the justice system.

Speculation and rumor - about public figures, especially - will always be allowed in a free press.

99% of defendants have no mention in the press... and they are innocent until proven guilty.

[trumad]

6. Well---isn't a public perp walk ---in the justice system?

[robcon]

7. Certainly it's often used by police for public figures or heinous crimes.

Do you think that is assumption of guilt?

Are you arguing that the press is only allowed to cover convictions, not arrests? Or that a perp walk is an assumption of guilt?

I think you've gotten carried away: the press SHOULD cover arrests. Or to put it another way, no one should limit what the press can cover without a court order, which (IMO) should be given only to protect victims.

[trumad]

12. Sorry but I think a perp walk instantly conveys to the public that they've got their man

or woman.... hence conveying guilt. mho

[pipi_k]

9. Maybe instead of "perp walk"

it should be called "suspect walk". Or something similar that doesn't imply the person is a perpetrator (and therefore guilty), but only a suspect, and innocent until proven guilty.


In any event, like a couple of others here said...it's the media speculation. The assumption of innocent until proven guilty applies to the court system.

[jberryhill]

18. Unless the jail is located where the arraignment is held

Then you have "perp walks".

Courts are public buildings.

[trumad]

22. Oh come on---you know they make a big show of it...

[jberryhill]

23. I love being told what I know

How long have you been living in my head?

[trumad]

24. I hate empty spaces.

[jberryhill]

26. Lol

A brainstorm is like a drop of rain on a cloudless day in my head sometimes!

[trumad]

27. Peace Brother.

[liberallunatic]

28. Really? Are you young? Because

that's pretty naive... Ask some accused but innocent "child abusers" how innocent they feel now that they have been exonerated. Look up the McMartin case if you need an example.

[Shagbark Hickory]

5. It doesn't even have to make cable news. +!

[Nye Bevan]

8. Did you complain about Ken Lay's perp walk?

Or Bernie Madoff's?

Why should the cops go to extraordinary lengths to help people they have arrested dodge the media?

[sufrommich]

10. This cracks me up. I don't recall any DUers running to the defense

of Mark Foley or any of the other "family values" GOPers when they all received the same treatment. Proof positive that justice is in the eye of the beholder.

[seabeyond]

13. bush. he was never even charged. so we cant talk about his crimes. got it. oh wait....

that is just assault and attempted rape on a nothing female by some god like man.

[Distant Observer]

19. Don't remember any of these guys getting JAIL NO BAIL treatment

[TransitJohn]

11. Even if you're found not guilty at trial you're still guilty

because the fucking cops will forever treat that arrest as a conviction in all further dealings you have with them for the rest of your life. I hate that they treat arrests as convictions...big pet peeve of mine.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TransitJohn]

20. Have you ever been arrested?

Have the charge dismissed, then interact with a cop years later. They'll treat you as though you were guilty.

[hifiguy]

14. Close. You're innocent until the a**shole cop

says you're guilty in front of a judge even though he's lying through his teeth.

[Distant Observer]

15. Expecially if you are an Alien

[jp11]

17. Really depends on who you are and what you are accused of.

But by and large I think that people tend to think if you get arrested you did something.

[WinkyDink]

21. What's the problem? We're not allowed, in your eyes, to OPINE?

[trumad]

25. OPINE---?

LOL--- So I guess the nancy Graces of the world...OPINE?