1. How does reading a trial transcript provide a unique view into crime?
Reading a trial manuscript provides a unique view into crime because it gives the perspective of the judge as well as the litigants and examines the case in terms of precedents set by previous cases under the law. It also provides a judgment from the bench which can be agreed with or disagreed with by the reader of the transcript. In short, it gives a perspective that can be useful into understanding the mindsets of the people involved in the case at the time when it was heard.
This is why it is important to have numerous perspectives when looking at history. History is full of a variety of incidents and ideas that interact with one another, that impact and are impacted by each other as time goes on. A single perspective on a case trial is but only one example of how ideas were moving along at a given time. It is important to realize however that there is a before and after, a context in which the case is situated that is both informed by the past and that goes on to inform the future events in some way. Sometimes, future cases are decided differently than previous cases because of cultural shifts in how values are defined.
2. What are the limitations of using only one trial transcript to make an assumption about crime?
The limitations of using only one trial transcript...
By gathering multiple texts to use to better understand the history of crime and punishment in America, a researcher can help to filter out biases and slants in perspectives and arrive at a more objective understanding of the evolution of criminal justice in the U.S.
There are also issues of reliability and credibility that have to be addressed. For instance, one must ask whether a document is consistent with the truth or the reality and facts of what happened or if it is embellished or distorted by the author. One must also ask if author’s tone or perspective is trustworthy. As ideas are imbibed by the authors of documents in the past just like they are today, one has to decipher where authors are coming from, how they are viewing the world, what their ideals or principles are (for these are the basis from which…
