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From: Marlowe O. Camello, camello@vmicro.com
Date: 11/12/98
Time: 6:22:29 AM
In countries where there are no independent "grand juries" and the system of "trial by jury" in their criminal justice system, it is not unusual to hear "wholesale" corruption by public officials and employees. Human rights abuses are also prevalent.
It is suggested that the U.S. should influence other countries in adopting its own grand jury and trial jury systems. The U.S. Congress should pass a model jury system for other countries. Each time a country will ask for economic or military assistance from the U.S., it shall make it a condition for the beneficiary country to adopt the model jury legislation. When entering a treaty of any kind with another country, the U.S. shall also require as a condition in signing of the treaty for the adoption of the model jury legislation by the other signing party.
The grand jury is an effective system in checking the abuses of public officials. The trial by jury is an effective means of preventing human rights abuses. The jury system is the means by which the people can look in the conduct of their public servants. Rules of good conduct cannot be made effective unless the people partake in the enforcement of such rules.
Furthermore, laws against bribery should exclude the giver from criminal prosecution. Instead, the giver should be made a witness against the recipient of his bribe. If the giver refuses to testify, he should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. Prosecuting both giver and recipient under the same category is like forcing "oil" to mix with "water" in the same cookie "jail".