may16 clarity ppt2012 crim
Post on 25-Jun-2015
686 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Cheryl Stephens
Language in Criminal Justice
Language and Justice
Only 1 in 8 Americans has the abilities needed to cope with the language and proceduresof law and the courts.
Damaged Lives
Even petty convictions affect
• professional licenses
• child custody
• food stamps
• student loans
• health care
• immigration
• public housing
Who Suffers?
Victims
Accused Witnesses
Families Communities
Jurors
Do you…solemnly swear that you will diligently, fully and impartially inquire into and true presentment make of all offenses which shall come to your knowledge…that you will present no one from hatred or malice nor leave anyone unpresented from fear, favor, affection, reward, or hope of reward; that you will …perform all the duties enjoined upon you…?
Crimes of not understanding
• failure to appear • breach of conditions• breach of a probation• being unlawfully at large• failure to comply
Communication Hurdles
• Situational• Short-term• Long-term• Systemic
Sources of Cognitive Deficiencies or Poor Comprehension
• low education• medical conditions• old age• disabilities• learning difficulties• discrimination• conditions of poverty
• mental handicaps• degenerative conditions
• epilepsy• vision problems• AIDS• head/neck injuries
Gap Between Cognitive Demands and Cognitive Ability Level
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4/5
22% 26% 33% 16/4%
• Explicit
• Concrete
• Simple
• Single task
• Low volume
• Implicit• Abstract• Complex• Multiple tasks• High volume
← Low Text Inferences
High →
Low Reading Skills – Invisible Hurdle
• Proficient readers
• Have adequate reading skills for daily life but not for new and complex info
• Can read simple sentences on familiar topics if clearly laid-out
• Cannot read or recognizes words only
United States Skill Rates
International Rates
12.5
47.0
7.9
15.9
20.0
25.6
32.5
26.2
36.3
32.6
35.6
17.0
45.3
35.7
34.6
26.3
3.5
20.6
12.1
12.8
14.6 27.3 38.6 19.5
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Bermuda
Canada
Italy
Norway
Switzerland
United States
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4/5
Legalese is a barrier
Special language and procedures
represent a refusal to communicate
Incredibly bad form
Incomprehensible Language
Oath for child of 7 to 13 years
Do you know that it is a criminal offence to intentionally give false evidence in a judicial proceeding?
And do you solemnly promise to tell the truth in this proceeding?
Legal Concepts & Fictions
Right to Understand
Canadian Charter of Rights
Charter…requires communication of the right, not a rote repetition of it.
Regina vs Evans Supreme Court of Canada [1991] 1 S.C.R. 869
Legal Literacy
1. Ability to read
complex material in
specialized language
2. Familiarity with
legal context
Legal Tasks
What to do?
top related