ir research and understanding of the existing case law and she said that while the end result often is not what an individual(s) might hope for -- that is why we have different levels of appellate courts and supreme courts. She said that if a person feels that they did not receive a fair and impartial result in a trial, they can appeal their case, if they have the proper grounds, to another level in our court system. I asked Alissa C. if she had any direct dealings with the court system, such as jury duty. She indicated that she served on a DUI one-day trial. Without releasing any names, she indicated that the defendant was found not guilty, based on evidence and testimony presented by both sides. While Alissa C. seemed to be a very strong supporter of our police and court systems, her support wavered a bit when asked about our correctional system. She indicated that while there are weak links in the police system and the court system, she felt it worked quite well for society. However, she felt that the correctional system definitely has need for improvement. First, she explained that there do not appear to be enough correctional institutions. While funding or the lack thereof is the reason given for not having enough prisons and correctional officers, she felt that perhaps the government should rethink their budgeting process and set aside enough funds to accommodate the increasing amounts of inmates. In Illinois, she pointed out that the early release programs and parole systems seem to fall in the cracks and allow criminals back on the streets -- especially the career criminal that shouldn't be mingling with the general public. She indicated that its a given that the law states that an inmate will do a certain amount of time and, if he/she meets the requirements of the parole board, can be released back into society after a certain amount of that sentence has been served. In her opinion, certain crimes should, perhaps, warrant the ...
