Welcome to JusticeMakers Discussions! Here, you will find various articles about critical criminal justice issues written by experts and professionals in the field. Click on the featured Discussion topics below to read articles, respond, and join conversations with other individuals passionate about justice! You will find a comment section at the end of each article - so please feel free to weigh in on the debate.

High Time for Changing the “Adult Time for Adult Crime” Mentality:

The European Court of Human Rights has considered the age of criminal responsibility and the right to a fair trial in the case of T V vs. United Kingdom involving an eleven year old boy charged with murder of a two year old. The court held that the formality and ritual of the adult court was incomprehensible and intimidating for a child and that the right to fair trail had been violated, even though the boy was represented by skilled and experienced lawyers. In the light of the lack of juvenile courts in Georgia, and the lack of specialized juvenile lawyers and judges, much the same criticism could be leveled at the Georgian system, and any challenge to the European Court would have a good chance of success. Join the discussion now!

This discussion is part of our Advisement of Rights Topic, dealing with the challenges defenders face in working with clients who don't understand and/or pursue their legal rights.  Read the related articles:

• Poverty and Judicial Corruption Behind Torture in Indonesia
  
• Juvenile Injustice in Afghanistan
  
• What is a Threat to Justice
  

Are Countries Justified in Retaining the Death Penalty? A Case Study on Kenya:

"I believe that even if someone has killed another, you do not correct the situation by killing another person. That leaves two dead people," one activist said recently. What do you think about this? The family of the victim needs justice to be delivered; but can hanging the murderer be considered “fair and just?” Join the discussion now!

This discussion is part of our Collaboration Topic, focusing on how various members of the justice sector work together to improve rule of law in their communities.

Building bridges for legal reform:

Taking on nationwide legal reform is no small task - and it requires all the stakeholders within a criminal justice system, including judges, defense lawyers, prosecutors, police, and prison officials - to come together and join hands in pursuit of a common goal. It's not always easy to bring together  these often conflicting parts of the judiciary, but it's absolutely vital to legal reform. What do you think? Join the discussion now!

This discussion is part of our Affirmations Topics, dealing with the principles guiding the work of JusticeMakers and IBJ. This discussion topic has drawn responses from 2008 JusticeMakers Fellows who are working tirelessly towards legal reform - even if it means facing numerous challenges and obstacles. Read the related articles:

• Persevering despite danger: the challenges of justice reform
  
• Translating theory into action: how to make working legal infrastructure a reality
  
• Is justice delayed justice denied? Or can justice never come too late?
  
• Criminal justice work involves tough choices: is compromise inevitable?