How is the legal system like in NYC

[tvbdude]

for criminals? in your opinion, is it lenient or strict?

[lofter1]

For many white collar criminals: They never get busted. In fact, they rule the roost.

[Bob]

...for starters, when you get a traffic ticket in New York City or other large cities in New York State, you are not allowed a trial by jury, nor are you allowed to be heard by a judge. Instead, you get a "star chamber," of sorts, which is up to 3 "magistrates" who are under specific performance expectation to find "x" number of people guilty. There is no justice. The State of New York simply wants your money, and you are guilty until proven guilty. Turns my stomach.

[ZippyTheChimp]

^
If you have a traffic violation and fall into the classification of criminal, you have bigger issues than speeding.

[roccany]

It's funny. Here in Brazil (São Paulo) if you get a ticket for speeding you have no judges, no jury, no trial, no one to hear what you have to say. You simply pay and that's it. If you want to complain you have to address a letter to the Traffic Engineering Company and wait some months for the reply.

As for the justice system, we have no jury except for murder cases. Everything is written. And for the initial plaintiff's complaint to go to the DESK of the judge it takes sometimes 6-9 months. LOL!

You guys got a pretty fast justice system!

[KenNYC]

This question is so absurd and vague to the point of being ridiculous. The legal system in NYC is just like in the rest of the state, and within the Federal jurisdiction like it is in all of America.

You can get lucky or unlucky, just like in the legal system of any jurisdiction or country, generally speaking New York is moderately liberal legally speaking, fairly pro-business (not surprisingly, being the financial capital of the world, for now) and very efficient. New York courts are also fairly responsive to changes in public opinion.

[tvbdude]

Originally Posted by KenNYC

This question is so absurd and vague to the point of being ridiculous. The legal system in NYC is just like in the rest of the state, and within the Federal jurisdiction like it is in all of America.

You can get lucky or unlucky, just like in the legal system of any jurisdiction or country, generally speaking New York is moderately liberal legally speaking, fairly pro-business (not surprisingly, being the financial capital of the world, for now) and very efficient. New York courts are also fairly responsive to changes in public opinion.

what I noticed is, NYC sentencing laws seem alot harsher than my current state

[KenNYC]

You're not from Texas then

[ZippyTheChimp]

Originally Posted by tvbdude

what I noticed is, NYC sentencing laws seem alot harsher than my current state

Sentencing for what? Across the board?

Give us some examples.

[tvbdude]

Originally Posted by ZippyTheChimp

Sentencing for what? Across the board?

Give us some examples.

well, like illegal gun posession for example. I think the mandatory time in ny is what 3 1/2 yrs?
while in my state, the mandatory time is 1 1/2 yrs.

[ZippyTheChimp]

New York has probably the strictest gun possession laws of any state. But mandatory sentencing is a myth. In effect, the 2006 law removed the distinction between illegally carrying a firearm and doing so with criminal intent. But there is usually plea-bargaining in sentencing.

The Plaxico Burress case was reduced from a C to a D felony, resulting in a 20 month sentence. His situation was complicated by the fact that the firearm was discharged.

Is gun possession sentencing strictly mandatory in Massachusetts?


Note: Back to your original question, the law and legal system are two different things.

[tvbdude]

Originally Posted by ZippyTheChimp

Is gun possession sentencing strictly mandatory in Massachusetts?


Note: Back to your original question, the law and legal system are two different things.

If you're convicted of illegal gun posession, there is mandatory time. no probation, no suspended sentences, just straight jail time. Although it can probably be reduced to carrying a dangerous weapon charge(knives/batons). I've never heard of that before though.

ok, what I'm trying to ask is the criminal legal system and if they give long sentences. I asked this question here before. Some people said it's non lenient and some say it is. How about burglary cases? How long do they usually get?