Document:National Platform 1986: Difference between revisions
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states which refuse to comply with these laws by withholding funds and | states which refuse to comply with these laws by withholding funds and | ||
we applaud those states which refuse to be so coerced. | we applaud those states which refuse to be so coerced. | ||
4. SAFEGUARDS FOR THE CRIMINALLY ACCUSED | |||
Until such time as persons are proved guilty of crimes, they should be | |||
accorded full respect for their individual rights. We are thus opposed to reduction of | |||
present safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. | |||
Specifically, we are opposed to preventive detention, so-called "noknock†| |||
laws, and all other measures that t.hreaten individual rights. | |||
We support full restittition for all loss suffered by persons arrested, indicted, | |||
tried, imprisoned, or otherwise inuured in the course of criminal proceedings against | |||
them that do not result in their conviction. When they are responsible, governmental | |||
police employees or agents should be liable for this restitution. | |||
We call for a reform of the judicial system allowing criminal defendants and | |||
civil parties to a court action a reasonable number of peremptory challenges to | |||
proposed judges, similar to their right under the present system to challenge a | |||
proposed juror. | |||
5. JUSTICE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL | |||
The present system of criminal law is based almost solely on punishment with | |||
little concern for the victim. We support restitution for the victim to the fullest | |||
degree possibleï¬at the expense of the criminal or wrongdoer. | |||
We oppose the prosecution of individuals for the right of self-defense. | |||
We oppose all "no-fault" insurance laws. which deprive the victim fo the right | |||
to recover damages from those responsible in the case of injury. We also support the | |||
right of the victim to pardon the criminal or wrongdoer. barring threats to the | |||
victim for this purpose. We applaud the growth of private adjudication of disputes by | |||
mutually acceptable judges. | |||
We support a change in rape laws so that cohabitation will no longer be a | |||
defense against a charge of rape. | |||
6 JURIES | |||
We oppose the current practice of forced jury duty and favor all-volunteer juries. | |||
In addition. we urge the assertion of the common-law right of juries to judge | |||
not only the facts but also the justice of the law. Juries may hold all criminal laws invalid that are,in their opinion, unjust or oppressive, and find all persons not | |||
guilty of violating such laws. | |||
(4) | |||