By Christopher Roach Criminal sentencing conveys a society’s moral sense. The worst crimes get the death penalty or life without parole. At the other extreme, misdemeanor offenders may be met with fines, diversion programs, time served in county jail, or probation. In between are many gradations, wh
By Christopher Roach The American system does not require unanimity. In fact, its design presumes deep disagreement on matters of morality and policy. This is why questions like religion are left to individual conscience, and why most policy is left to states or even smaller units, where the law’s t
By Christopher Roach The American system does not require unanimity. In fact, its design presumes deep disagreement on matters of morality and policy. This is why questions like religion are left to individual conscience, and why most policy is left to states or even smaller units, where the law’s t
By Christopher Roach At the end of the classic independent film Reservoir Dogs, the characters end up in a Mexican standoff. The criminal gang’s ringleader, Joe, insists that Mr. Orange is working with the police, even though he is dying on the floor, having been shot during a failed jewelry store h