How Does Empathy Play In Criminal Justice

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the emotions of others. Having empathy involves recognizing the emotions in others and understanding the reasoning behind those feelings. It helps people connect with others and promotes compassion. Showing empathy allows people to communicate that they care about others which leads to better conclusions. Empathy is a fundamental basis that enhances interactions between people and problem-solving. People should practice empathy on a daily basis, especially in the justice system. Empathy should be a crucial aspect of the justice system to create a fair and understanding system. It must be exercised in a manner that doesn’t affect the laws. Empathy should play a role in the justice system based on

In Just Mercy, a veteran named Herbert Richardson suffered from “PTSD that continued to undermine his ability to manage his behavior” which eventually led to him committing a crime (Stevenson 74). This shows that people with mental disorders have no control over their behavior, so committing a crime is not their intention. They are unable to manage themselves properly and lack the conscious understanding to make decisions. People who struggle with a mental disorder “are somewhat more likely than members of the general public to commit acts of violence, research shows” (DeAngelis 6). This reveals that their mental state has a huge affect on their behavior. Showing empathy for those with mental illnesses can help the justice system develop a suitable verdict and improve the situation for those

The Keeping the Justice System Just Ted Talk states, “she described her background, the circumstances that led her to be charged with this crime” (McDonald). A large number of people who commit crimes do not live in proper conditions. This leads to them getting into situations where they end up committing acts that they wouldn’t have done if they did live in proper conditions. In Just Mercy, Antonio Nunez dealt with “domestic abuse inside the home” (Stevenson 154). He lived in unfortunate conditions inside his home which led him to getting caught up with the wrong people and committing a violent act. If he had been living in better conditions, there are less chances of him committing acts that got him in trouble. Therefore, empathy is important to show to those who are in bad living conditions because it will create a more fair