StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Hidden Victims by Susan Sharp - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "Hidden Victims by Susan Sharp" focuses on the case in the book by Sharp “Hidden Victims” which is the Gregg v. Georgia case. The other case is the Locket v. Ohio case. The two cases provide excellent examples of what active participation is all about in the system. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.7% of users find it useful
Hidden Victims by Susan Sharp
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Hidden Victims by Susan Sharp"

“Hidden Victims” by Susan Sharp Questions One of the cases that readers come across while reading Sharp’s “Hidden Victims” is the Gregg v. Georgia case. The other case is the Locket v. Ohio case. The two cases provide excellent examples of what active participation is all about in the system. Gregg v. Georgia case was designed with the aim of distinguishing it from all the other criminal cases. According to Sharp, the case was set to make the case more qualified for a death sentence (5).

Susan Sharp is quick to point out that the Gregg v Georgia case decisions have over the years been abused and seem to be administered in the most unfair way, targeting the non-white people, and the poor, and applying only to when the victims are white (6). In the Locket v. Ohio case there is the presentation of evidence that is mitigated and the form Gregg decisions which were applied, are no longer used. The Locket v. Ohio case has now shifted the decision as to whether a death sentence should be applied or not.

The latter case now proves that passing a death sentence today is more of a merciful process, where the offender’s actions are weighed against the claims made by the families of the victims. In both of these cases, it is clear that the families or the victim and the offender participate. In the social process theories, the assumption is that every individual has the capability of violating the law. Therefore, theories such as these from social scientists and experts are some of the reasons that allow people to believe that some prisoners have been wrongfully convicted.

According to Sharp, it is not only fuelled by theories but also stories, public opinion, racial bias, and financial costs incurred (115). The author also points out that the latest technology, such as DNA testing is proof enough that people in the past were convicted wrongfully (Sharp 120). Knowing that the prisons are mixed with both the guilty and the innocent, people only accept this collectively, when provided with DNA evidence. In addition to this, most people believe that the innocent are likely to accept a plea bargain when they are offered and plead innocent until proven otherwise.

The sociological perspective from which Sharp draws her conclusions points out that people often forget that the same murderers that are sentenced to death are brothers, sisters, fathers, or mothers of innocent families. The fact that there are innocent people who are locked up in prisons is prove to show that people outside the prisons are also not so safe from the system that makes a lot of mistakes. The stories and theories given by families of inmates that were convicted years ago are also another way that has led people to believe both the innocent and guilty can be found in prisons. Prof. Sharp’s interview with the affected families and the convicted inmates correlates with the discussions on cognitive dissonance because it reflects on the emotions of the people affected.

Cognitive dissonance occurs mostly in situations where the person’s actions are in conflict with the beliefs that are there in society or the individual’s beliefs. The cognitive dissonance that seems to affect individuals such as the ones depicted in the interview can be noted, in the responses that they give to the interviewer. Most of the convicted value their freedom but most are in prison whether guilty or innocent (Sharp 190). Most of the offenders or the affected families are aware of such conflicting beliefs that exist in society but embrace these beliefs because this is how they are able to improve their ability to make decisions.

Opposing the death penalty in a case that is pending is as explained by the author unacceptable. Groups of people who are opposing the penalties are also not allowed to be on the jury. Applying the social processes theory, this can be explained with the assumption that in social process theories, crime is also dependent on cultural values and norms. Hence, everyone is made aware that the same criminals that these groups defend are a result of society’s norms. The social processes that create this condition include the assumptions that there are no individual differences and that antisocial behavior among most offenders is usually learned and not a natural occurrence.

This seems to be an acceptable policy in sentencing because the jury has to be an independent body that is not under the influence of the offender’s family or the victim’s family. In conclusion, it is evident that for the families of the hidden victims, who are the offenders, the community in most cases seems to blame them for having raised such a person. The families of the victims and the people affected are often classified as part of the prosecution and society is usually merciful towards them.

For example, in the cases Sharp gives in the book, she provides readers with the idea that both sides have a sigh of relief because judgment is administered in a fair way. The Americans as depicted in the case are the families of the accused and the victims. However, the author is quick to point out that both sides face grief, trauma, and financial losses (Sharp 9). 

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Hidden Victims Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1475231-hidden-victims
(Hidden Victims Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/sociology/1475231-hidden-victims.
“Hidden Victims Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1475231-hidden-victims.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Hidden Victims by Susan Sharp

Politics of Famines

From the paper "Politics of Famines" it is clear that the Sudanese government artificially mislead society about the real extent of famine in the South.... Instead, it strived to support relatively low prices in the northern part of Sudan, in the area adjacent to Khartoum.... ... ... ... The famine progressed as higher requisitions for the cities and the army was demanded....
8 Pages (2000 words) Research Paper

Criminology: Cyber Crime

The paper "Criminology: Cyber Crime" states that as much as rapidly advancing computer technology assists in simplifying life activities and integrating lifestyles, it has led to the development of equal dangers and risks that were absent before the advent of computers.... .... ... ... The invention and introduction of computer technology presented great advantages that made it receive a warm welcome and appreciation from all corners of the world....
10 Pages (2500 words) Research Paper

Banning of gun ownership in the united states

The Second Amendment issued in 2008 by the Supreme Court of the United States has caused a plethora of debates about the right of Americans for gun ownership and its potential benefits and threats to the society.... ... ... ... Even though there are some reasonable arguments from the side of gun ownership proponents, the number of negative consequences is far more ponderable....
20 Pages (5000 words) Research Paper

The case of Susan

The patient in question was a Turkish lady named susan, who came to England as a refugee with her husband and three children, now aged 9,6 and 4 respectively.... As a refugee, susan does not yet have the legal status necessary for employment.... Moreover, it appears that in susan's case, there is also a great load of trauma that she is carrying in her mind, through a series of tragic events, including the suicide of her husband and what she may perceive as the betrayal of her friend through her failure to support her....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Domestic Violence and its consequences for Women and Children

In the paper 'Domestic Violence and its consequences for Women and Children' the author analyzes domestic violence as a symptom of insecure or 'dysfunctional' family interaction.... A domestic relationship varies by state but generally by any married couple.... ... ... ... The author of the paper states that domestic violence does not occur within a certain ethnicity, race, religion or economic status, it prevails everywhere....
42 Pages (10500 words) Essay

The Relationship Between Gender, Security and Justice in Conflict-Affected Environments

This document will take into account the relationship that exists between gender, security and justice in conflict-affected environments and makes an attempt to analyse the situation based on facts and realities that surround such environments.... ... ... ... It starts with a brief introduction of the topic, which is then followed by a detailed discussion about gender, security, and justice in conflict-affected environments....
15 Pages (3750 words) Essay

Is There a Difference Between Human Trafficking and the Smuggling of Migrants

"Is There a Difference Between Human Trafficking and the Smuggling of Migrants" paper argues that while the difference between human trafficking and smuggling shows an apparent distinction between the two terms, they overlap, as researchers support the notion that there is a significant 'a grey area....
14 Pages (3500 words) Case Study

Loss and Grief in Social Work Practice

The paper "Loss and Grief in Social Work Practice" discusses that the case of Deng is just an example of many cases narrated from war ton countries.... Many families are separated and broken as a result of the war.... Surviving individuals and left grieving and facing the feeling of huge loss.... ....
10 Pages (2500 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us