In the last day and a half I’ve spent with an Open World delegation from Tajikistan, I have heard this question more than once.  Although it is raised half jokingly, it highlights the massive differences between the criminal justice system in the United States and that in Tajikistan.  Delegates have been amazed by the great care taken to protect the rights of alleged and convicted criminals – regardless of the seriousness of their crimes. 

For the first three days this week, they spent the time in courtrooms, observing live courtroom proceedings.  They saw a divorce case, a statutory rape case, and a federal corruption case.  They met with judges and lawyers and witnessed the process of jury selection.

And then this morning we visited the North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (Gainesville, Florida) which provides evaluation services and houses alleged and convicted felons that have been found either incompetent to proceed in the judicial process or not guilty by reason of insanity.  The delegates were amazed to learn that no mechanical restraints are used on patients/prisoners in the facility, nor is isolation used as a means of control or punishment except in the most extreme cases.  Residents of the facility are treated as human beings and given opportunities to progress and prepare themselves for life on the outside whenever possible.

Our delegates are all lawyers, so seeing the whole judicial process in a more developed democratic society, from intake into the system, through prosecution and sentencing, to life as a prisoner, has been an eye-opening experience for them.