Second Post Assignment - CST #1 and #2

Catholic Socail Teaching and the Problem of Injustice in the Criminal Justice System

This blog addresses the injustices in the criminal justice system, focusing on how those of a low socioeconomic status. This injustice takes the form of unequal punishments and underrepresentation in court. We also examine the reasons that the poor are so heavily represented in the prison population.

CST #1 Life and Dignity of the Human Person
This CST deals with the idea that all humans has natural rights, and that these natural rights should be protected. To have dignity is to be treated with respect as a human being, and this is something that should be garunteed for all people. If a person is more likely to be sent to prison because of how much money he or she has, then that person is not being with fairness or respect. The criminal justice system is meant to protect the citizens of the United States, and to unfairly treat the poor is an affront to that goal and to the dignity of those humans who must now spend years of their life in prison.
-Stephen Wandro

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/04/prison.jpg.

CST #2 Call to Family, Community, and Participation
This CST says that it is the duty of everyone to participate in all levels of society, to live in happiness with ones family, to help ones own community, and to participate in the larger community. It is the duty of all free people to help those who have been unjustly seized in there community. We can no longer simply watch as those in our communitys are victimized by the high costs and complications that come with the current legal and prison system. Everyone needs to help ease the suffering of those who have been victimized, and to help eachother. Towns with prisons are not uneffected, they feel the prisons effect and it changes each town. Each community needs to band together to help keep its sense of community and life, they need to help eachother to not lose their sense of community.
-Julian Thomas

http://imgsrv.kcbs.com/image/kcbs/UserFiles/Image/prison_clo(2).jpg

CST #3 Rights and Responsibilities
Humans have fundamental natural rights that must be protected. When these rights are threatened for some, it is the responsibility of all to protect those rights from violation. To be treated unfairly by the criminal justice system is to have one's natural rights violated. It is the responsibility of all members of a society to ensure that the criminal justice system that defends them is not abusing its power and violating rights. The criminal justice system that is supposed to be fair is unfair toward those of a lower socioeconomic status, and that is a violation of natural rights that must be stopped.
Stephen Wandro

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/41624538_344fb169d2.jpg

CST #4 Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
A poor lower class is a sad fact of society, and those poor are the most vulnerable to being taken advantage of. We should be aware of the needs of the poor and ensure that they are taken care of. In the criminal justice system, it is often the poor that end up as a disadvantage. This is an injustice in that having more money can buy shorter prison sentences because of better representation. Because of this, society sees the poor as more dangerous, and even more of the poor end up in prison. It is a vicious cycle that can only be stopped if the system is changed to take care of the poor and ensure that they have all the advantages in the criminal justice system as someone of a higher socioeconomic status.
Stephen Wandro

http://www.toktali.com/blog//wp-content/gallery/old_posts/homeless.jpg