Treating You Like You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty

The criminal justice system is notorious for its harsh treatment towards the accused. Defendants can be treated as prisoners before even getting sentenced, and prisoners themselves can be treated as sub-human during their sentence and even after. Advocates for criminal justice reform argue that more rehabilitative programs should be implemented instead of harsher punishments and inhumane treatment.

Scholars like Professor Stephanos Bibas deem the criminal justice system as a “machine,” or “a dehumanized bureaucracy in which the interests, not to mention the feelings, of victims and defendants alike are ignored, and in which the logic and operation of the system are dictated by the interests of the lawyers and other officials who manage it,” according to the Harvard Law Review.

At The Ambeau Law Firm, however, we go above and beyond to advocate for our clients' best interests. We treat our clients with the compassion and respect they deserve, and in doing so, contribute to the ongoing efforts of improving the criminal justice system. The process of fixing what many argue is a “broken system” could take years, but in the meantime, it's important to recognize the importance of humanizing rather than criminalizing the accused upon their arrest.

Strategies to Promote Humanization Over Criminalization

Criminal justice reform organizations such as The Peace Alliance describe some programs and strategies that can promote the humanization of the criminal justice system:

• Early intervention: Providing support to at-risk youth via mentoring programs, after school programs, at-home family support, etc. to best prevent them from committing crimes.
• Restorative justice: An approach in which the defendant and victim come together to discuss the damage of the respective crime and how to best resolve it. This process is guided by the victims' needs and helps the defendant understand the impacts of their actions.
• Prisoner rehabilitation/re-entry support: Programs that provide life and career skills can help inmates return to their communities as productive members of society.
• Trauma-informed justice and courts: Many people who get incarcerated end up dealing with traumatic encounters that can permanently affect them. Thus, education and awareness are critical factors in helping court officials navigate cases and make good decisions.
• Diversionary approaches: This allows low-risk offenders to experience alternatives to incarceration.
• Mediation: This is a process that helps both parties resolve disputes with the goal of negotiating a settlement.

Fighting for Alternatives to Incarceration

Ironically, there are serious injustices in the justice system, but we fight to prevent clients from suffering such issues. To do so, our defense attorneys at The Ambeau Law Firm stay fully educated and up to date on the issues tainting the criminal justice system. Further, we make a conscious effort to do our part to make your experience in the justice system as smooth and fair as possible.

From the moment you retain our attorney, you will be treated as a human being and not just another case number. We genuinely want the best for you, not just a paycheck. Thus, our lawyers fight for outcomes besides prison time and fines by negotiating to reduce or dismiss your penalties altogether.

You can trust that we will humanize and not criminalize you. Contact us online or by calling (225) 330-7009 to learn how we can help you.

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