Grand Jury Decisions in Ferguson and Staten Island: A Legal Perspective
The Decision-Making Process
A grand jury is a group of citizens who are tasked with determining whether there is probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime. States do not use grand juries, but some municipalities do.
Probable Cause
To indict someone, the grand jury must establish that there is probable cause to believe that the person has committed a crime. Probable cause is a lower standard of proof than beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the standard required for a conviction at trial.
The Ferguson and Staten Island Cases
In the Ferguson, Missouri, case, the grand jury decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. In the Staten Island, New York, case, the grand jury also decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner.
The Reasons for the Decisions
The reasons for the grand jury decisions in these cases are unclear. However, there are a few possible explanations.
- The grand juries may have believed that the officers acted in self-defense.
- The grand juries may have believed that the prosecutors did not present enough evidence to support an indictment.
- The grand juries may have been influenced by the public outcry over the deaths of Brown and Garner.
The Aftermath
The grand jury decisions in Ferguson and Staten Island have sparked widespread protests and outrage. Many people believe that the decisions were unjust and that the officers should have been indicted.
The Response from the Authorities
The authorities have responded to the protests with a mix of force and restraint. In some cases, police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. In other cases, police have allowed the protests to proceed peacefully.
The Impact on Race Relations
The grand jury decisions have had a significant impact on race relations in the United States. Many people believe that the decisions are a sign that the criminal justice system is biased against African Americans.
Komentar