The Criminal Is Not Solely Responsible for His Crime...

Clarence Darrow in his Address Delivered to the Prisoners in the Chicago County Jail, presents a convincing argument for the complicity of society with the criminal. In essence, Darrow believes that when one man steals from another, the community is as culpable as the criminal, since no man who already had plenty of money in his own pocket (82) would risk his life and liberty to rob or steal from another. According to Darrow, the root of the problem lies in poverty and the hoarding of wealth by a handful of people who become rich by exploiting the poor through cheap labor, or by appealing to their vices. It is interesting to note that during hard times crime increases. Particularly, periods of high inflation, or unusually cold†¦show more content†¦Darrow believes that everyone makes his living along the lines of least resistance (84). For example, he emphasized that kidnapping children is not a crime, it is a profession and that kidnappers do not take children because they want the children or because they are devilish, but because they see a chance to get some money out of it (83). The cure for such ills, according to Darrow, is to give the people a chance to live because if every man, woman and child in the world had a chance to make a decent, fair, honest living, there would be no jails, and no lawyers (83). The apathy, hopelessness and resignation of the poor is clearly described in the following blues song titled Poverty by Bobby Blue Bland. This tune was a popular refrain during the 60’s. Up every morning with the sun/I work all day till the evening comes. Blisters and corns all in my hands/Lord have mercy on a working man. I Guess I’m gonna die just like I’m living - in poverty. My pay goes down and the tax goes up/I drink my tea from a broken cup. Between my woman and Uncle Sam, I can’t figure out whose fool I am. I guess I’m gonna die just like I’m living – in poverty. Oh Lord it’s so hard, but it’s fair/Everybody talks, but nobody really cares. Can’t save a dime, can’t borrow one cent/If I pay my bills I can’t pay my rent. The old lady’s fussing and the kids are crying. They won’t let me join the welfare line. I Guess I’m gonna die just like I’m living -- in poverty.Show MoreRelatedCrime and the Criminal Justice System1111 Words   |  5 PagesCrime and the Criminal Justice System The criminal justice system and the process have molded the laws of the United States to its current existence. The judicial system is designed to punish those who commit crimes against one another and for those who break the laws in other ways. According to Pearson (2012), crime can be defined as conduct in violation of the state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptable justification or excuse. 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