Why is the "wedding cake" model of informal justice a useful image for the way we view criminal justice? Does it suggest that this system is the right way to view cases or does it highlight certain inequalities?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

This model of informal justice effectively shows how many cases fall at each level and how society is most concerned with the smallest number of high-profile cases. The smallest number of cases fall into Level I, but that is where the majority of our attention is directed. This highlights the fact that public opinion is often formed on the basis what happens in an atypical case. A large of number of cases that fall into the lower tiers are often dealt with consistently across jurisdictions, so those fall by the wayside. This model also successfully illustrates the number of misdemeanors and where the bulk, or base, of most cases fall. It can also bring out inequalities. For example, Level I cases, because they are so highly publicized, give us misconceptions about the justice system, such as the idea that intelligent people receive the full range of procedural rights and that most victims are members of the upper classes. The "wedding cake" model is helpful for how we, as a society, currently view criminal justice, but also shows that this approach might not be the most equitable way to focus attention on cases.