David E. Asma

Publication Date

1996

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Thomas, Jim, 1941-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Sociology

LCSH

Criminal justice; Administration of--United States--Psychological aspects; Defense (Criminal procedure)--United States--Psychological aspects

Abstract

An irony of our judicial system is that the ritual of due process intended to provide an equal playing field between the prosecution and defendants also contains the potential to increase the powerlessness that defendants feel. Institutionalized forms of interaction, control of knowledge and legal proceedings, and manipulation of the ceremonial trappings of justice are among the events and processes that contribute to defendants' framing of their experience as a theater of powerlessness. By focusing on the experiences of defendants in a courtroom setting, I will display the processes by which this drama plays out.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-73)

Extent

73 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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