In a democratic society, transparency is the linchpin of trust. It ensures that power is not misused, that the public is informed, and that the government and its officials are held accountable. Yet, when we turn our eyes to the criminal justice system, what we often find is a maze of opacity.
From the police chiefs to district attorneys, from sheriffs to judges, a critical gap exists in the public’s ability to access and understand the actions and decisions made within these roles. These are elected officials, granted the power to make pivotal decisions that shape lives, communities, and societies at large. So why is it so challenging for the average citizen to find visible evidence of their efforts?
Imagine wanting to know about the complaints against a particular police department. How many were made? How many were resolved? When were the arrests made, and for what charges? How many of those arrests were for drug possession or domestic violence? What about youth crimes? What is the age demographic of those arrested? Where are these crimes predominantly occurring? Without transparency, these questions remain unanswered, leaving the public in the dark.
The lack of clarity goes even deeper when we consider the district attorneys’ offices. Upon an arrest, what charges are initially filed? How do these charges evolve through the plea-bargaining process? For instance, if someone is arrested for dealing in drugs like heroin or fentanyl, how often are those charges reduced or dropped altogether? Such information can offer insights into the biases, prejudices, and perhaps even the temperaments of those in charge of prosecuting crimes.
Judges, too, operate under a veil. When they pass a sentence, what ensures that their decisions are consistent, fair, and devoid of personal bias? In states like Louisiana, there’s talk of “truth in sentencing” because of perceived discrepancies between what judges pronounce and the actual time served by the defendant. Such disparities can erode trust in the judicial system, and without transparency, there’s no way for the public to understand or challenge these decisions.
The question then is, why is such vital information inaccessible to the public? Why can’t a concerned citizen easily access records from the sheriff’s department, the police, the judiciary, or the district attorney’s office?
The absence of such transparency is not just a bureaucratic issue; it is a democratic one. It hampers our ability to hold officials accountable, breeds mistrust, and undermines the very tenets of justice. It is time to lift the veil, to bring transparency to the forefront of our criminal justice system, ensuring that justice is not just done, but seen to be done.