Racial Bias of Juror Selection: A Flawed System
If the majority of one’s peers have a criminal record and are excluded from serving as a juror does that set up the system against all defendants?
Discretionary or peremptory challenges to jurors are viewed as slated towards the prosecutors when the law has created such.
I would propose allowing anyone to serve on civil cases who has completed their required sentence, does not know the defendant and has not been arrested for any possible crime in 3 years from the last date of their sentence being completed.
Diverse opinions are important in every argument and presentation of facts, especially when weighing the evidence for one party or another. Everyone has a preference or bias on something and everyone has those moments in their life that effects whom they are today.
To say that those once convicted of a crime are no longer valued for their view or opinion is short sighted and a bias in itself. There are many points in our history where biases caused death, pain and even wars because of the difference of opinions.
An ex-con’s right to employment and the right to be treated equally without malice is no different than what each of us should expect. If a person is considered a risk to someone and is to register wherever they live I would not consider their sentence completed.
Organizations need to help reduce the stigma of ex-cons by being leaders in the employment of those who have completed all obligations of their sentence. If your organization does not value their input and work, how can you expect legislation to be passed to allow them to participate in the juror system?
