5 Things You Did Not Know About the American Legal System

The American legal system isn’t as straightforward as you might think. When it comes to the world of lawbreaking and prison sentences, many people don’t know the details of what can happen in the courtroom and behind bars. The truth is, there is a lot one can learn about the American legal system.

What You Don’t Know:

While many of us can recite one or two of the amendments, most Americans know very little about the United States’ laws and what can happen in prison. Here are five things you didn’t know about the American legal system:

1. Children Can Be Sentenced to Death or Life in Prison:

On television and in real life prepubescent and adolescent criminals beg to be tried as minors. While it is rare for a minor to be executed, the constitution cites this act as legal. When it comes to children receiving the death sentence, the United States has executed 365 prisoners aged 17 or younger.

2. Most Prison Crimes are Committed by Staff:

Prisoners aren’t the only one committing crimes behind bars. According to documented cases, it is common for prison guards and other members of the staff to commit crimes like rape and assault. Oftentimes, these crimes go undocumented and the offenders are never charged.

3. American Prisons are Seriously Overcrowded:

A quarter of the world’s imprisoned criminals are housed in American prisons. This has created an astonishing phenomenon of overpopulated and overcrowded prisons. California, a prime example, has reached 150% capacity with the inmates in its prisons.

4. During Elections, Judges Tend to Be Biased:

Unfortunately, justice isn’t always blind. During election years, judges that hope to be reelected have proven to take more popular positions in certain cases, as well as being tougher on crime, depending on the case.

5. Children Can Be Sex Offenders:

Tough laws intended to keep pedophiles and predators away from children can also work with children. Tweens and teens that are fond of sexting and posting their nude selfies on the Internet may find themselves charged with distributing child porn. While the child in question may never have actually committed an offense against anyone, they will still have to register as a sex offender in the national registry.

While the U.S. legal system is quite advanced and well respected, there are a few aspects of our system that may raise a few eyebrows. It is important for citizens and lawmakers alike to review our current legal system and identify how and where change should be made.

Jay Sekulow is an American attorney and is the Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ).