NEW Grand Jury; Staten Island

[eynon81]

[Professor]

[eynon81]

[Philly]

[eynon81]

[Professor]

I think it's a matter of trying to stamp down our evolutionary survival instincts. At our basest, we identify risks based upon past experiences. If we see enough pictures of a "black man" shooting/robbing/raping, then some animalistic part of our brain will naturally be wary of all black people. Just like a guard dog that's abused by his owner will view all humans as enemies, despite the fact that someone may be trying to help him.

We're trying to overcome that instinct with our higher-brains, because we know that ALL black people aren't bad. But, it's going to be very hard to tamp down that survival instinct. And, in positions of high stress, where our fight-or-flight mechanisms are working overtime, it's even tougher.

Also, this isn't JUST a race thing. Do you let the middle-aged, single white guy take your kid alone to the zoo? Nope. Why? What are the chances that he's that pedophile that you saw on Chris Hanson's show? Pretty low. But, you make a stereotypical generalization in your subconscious.

[eynon81]

You'll like this Prof:
http://northdenvernews.com/denver-secon ... 5w.twitter

not to many Southern Jurisdictions on it.

[Saz]

[eynon81]

[Professor]

Let me make sure I get the process right (assuming a prosecutor elects the grand jury route, not pressing charges himself).

1) Person is named a "suspect" in a crime. Often, if the crime is public enough, the names of suspects (or "persons of interest") are given to the public.
2) Person is arrested for the crime. These arrest records are ALWAYS public.
3) Person is taken to a grand jury, which is a secret affair.
4) Person is indicted, which is public.
5) Person is tried, which is public.
6) Person abides by the trial court decision, which is public.
7) Person serves time (if found guilty), which is public.

So, we can know that a person is:

- suspected
- arrested
- indicted
- tried
- determined guilty/innocent
- jailed

I could understand the logic if it was a secret process all the way up to the indictment phase. But, if I'm named a suspect and arrested, why am I going to all of a sudden be offended that my grand jury testimony and evidence is made public?