Courts and Criminals

Courts and Criminals, published in 1912 by Arthur Train, is a collection of essays focusing on the American criminal justice system from the early 20th century. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

Focus on the Legal System: Train, a lawyer himself, offers an insider's perspective on the workings of the courts, the police, and the prosecution.

Diverse Topics: The essays cover a wide range of themes related to crime and law. This might include:

• The challenges of upholding the presumption of innocence.
• The preparation and strategies involved in criminal trials.
• The sensationalization of trials by the media.
• Issues with jury selection and potential biases.
• Ethical considerations for lawyers.
• The effectiveness of different punishments.

Early 20th Century Perspective: It's important to remember that the essays were written over a century ago. Train's views on criminal justice may reflect the social and legal landscape of that time period.

Critical and Insightful: Train doesn't shy away from criticizing flaws in the system. He might propose reforms and discuss areas for improvement.

Engaging Writing Style: Despite being a non-fiction work, Train's writing style is engaging and accessible. He may use real-life cases and anecdotes to illustrate his points.

Potential Limitations:

• The book might not delve deeply into the motives or backgrounds of criminals themselves.
• As it focuses on the American system, it may not be directly applicable to other countries' legal systems.

Overall, Courts and Criminals offers a valuable window into the early 20th century American legal system, providing insights from a lawyer with firsthand experience. It raises important questions about fairness, justice, and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.