just mercy chapters 8-13 discussion questions
Chap 9: Stevenson remarks on several physical actions he takes during the trial. What are they and are they effective?
Stevenson requests five days, but the judge only allows two and a half. Stevenson takes time to find evidence to back up everything he is saying. Stevson recounts the stories that Meyers gave him during walters trial and he highlights that the state neer searched for the white man. Also stevenson claims the state that the man isn't real. Stevenson likes to hold grudges and he holds his breath when he is called for a testimony against walter. Stevenson's tactics is effective because he is making the judge realize that he made the wrong decision.
Chap 10: 2. If you were the prison warden where Avery Jenkins was held, would you allow your staff to proactively declare their political opinions?
Steveson was the first person who met Avery Jenkins over the telephone. Avery called and he was pretty incoherent. He couldn't explain what he had been convicted of or even clearly describe what he wanted Stevenson to help him with. He complained about the conditions of his confinement until a random thought caused him to abruptly switch topics. Stevenson was not really able to understand him through the phone or through letters so he decides to meet with him in person.
chap 8: What evidence did criminologists have in 1991 to support their "super-predator" theory? What role did race play in this theory? What do we now know about the validity of these predictions?
The criminologists have evidence that supports their "super-predator" theory. One piece of evidence is The "super-predator" theory suggests that some children who are guilty of committing crimes have no empathy and no respect for human life, they kill on impulse. "super-predators" were usually children who were raised under unfortunate circumstances with a poor education and poverty, this links the theory to race, because people who were born into these poor circumstances were usually people of color.
Chap 9: Of all the evidence presented in this trial, which is the most likely to sway the judge's ruling? Which is the least likely?
The evidence that sways the judge ruling is the tapes. When Myers said he was lying it was caught on tape.
Chap 11: Did the judge's ruling surprise you?
The judge ruling didn't surprise me because when someone like stevenson has a sense of hope and gives their all then with all the positivity they get it no matter what. He gave all his effort and got repaid for it.
Chap 11: Václav Havel, the great leader, says people in difficult situations need what one thing? How did having this help Walter and his family?
The one thing was hope. Stevenson says, "the kind of hope that creates a willingness to position oneself in a hopeless place and be a witness [...]
Chap 10: What does Stevenson mean when he uses the phrase "mitigation" in court?
When Stevenson uses the phrase "mitigation" in court he is referring to making the situation less painful. This connects to Stevenson's advocacy and connects to the symbol of the milkshake which represents a way of calming Avery.
Chap 9: What are your impressions of Mrs. Williams?
While reading, I had a good impression of Ms. Williams. She seemed like a sweet lady who carries meaning. Mrs. Williams is a strong woman who gained the strength to overcome the fears she had due to her past traumatic experiences in order to come and support Walters for the sake of justice.
Chap 13: Stevenson is concerned about Walter returning to his life in his hometown. Are those concerns realistic?
Yes because Walter is still traumatized from his long time spent in death row which can carry on and effect his everyday habits.
Chap 12: Do you think the verdict would have been different if the accused was the father of the infant?
Yes because at the time of the case women and men were treated different.
Chap 9: Should Stevenson and O'Conner be concerned?
Yes because they are receiving death threats for "defending a criminal" They know that this has happened to people before
Chap 11: Did Walter finally obtain justice?
Yes his sentence ended up being nullified.
Chap 12: In what ways are female inmates more at risk than male inmates?
Because females had less rights they had higher risk compared to males at the time. Also it was overcrowded and filled with sexual abuse.
Chap 12: In your opinion, why do Alabama taxpayers allow their money to fund abusive institutions such as the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women? Does Tutwiler seem better or worse than some of the other prisons Stevenson has described?
Because the people of Alabama believe it is keeping them safer if the women stay in the prison. The prison seems worse than most other because of the massive population within it and the sexual abuse within the prison.
Chap 12: Reflect on the statistics Stevenson cites for the imprisonment rates of women compared to men in the past decade. Why are these rates so different?
Because women are held accountable for the children creating "collateral consequences".
Chap 11: Walter's unfair incarceration took a permanent toll on his family. Can you relate to Walter's wife's reaction?
Being in that position can cause one to be depressed, sad, anxiety filled, and filled with loneliness. I personally cannot relate to it but can only imagine how she feels.
Chap 10: Who is Dorothea Dix and why is she important to this chapter?
Dorothea Dix tried to help campaign to get the mentally ill out of prison so they can receive the treatment that they deserve. Dorothea Dix is important in this novel because her efforts on behalf of the mentally ill and prisoners helped create dozens of new institutions across the United States and in Europe and changed people's perceptions of these populations.
Chap 10: Recount the story of George Daniel and list each example of how he may have been treated unfairly. Does everyone in the group agree?
George Daniel was involved in a car accident and suffered from brain damage. He never got medical help and started hallucinating. He exhibited eradicate behavior. He was thrown off the bus on the way to the hospital with no shoes or shirt in the cold. When he walked into a stranger's house the owner physically removed him and then he was attacked by an aggressive top. The officer pulled a weapon so George decided to kill the police for self-defense. He was wrongly diagnosed with not being mentally ill when he was. The doctor was a fraud.
chap 8: How would you react to receiving a letter like the one Ian writes to Stevenson?
I would be surprised and in shock, because it is so moving. It is sad to read a letter with such sorrow in it. I would give him a copy of all the photos for free. Ian is so deprived of human contact and clearly these photos are the only reminder to him of a time in which he could experience interacting with others. These photos, although they wouldn't seem so effective, give Ian a sense of joy and could possibly improve his mental state.
chap 8: How would you have changed the ruling in Trina, Ian, and Antonio's sentencing?
I would have changed the ruling because it was unfair to give Trina, ian and Antonio death in prison. I would have given them maybe 5 years at most. Instead of sentencing these children to life in prison, they should be given mental assistance. These children were not guilty of murdering and their crimes were a result of their mental instability. grew up with circumstances that caused them to be mentally unstable, and life imprisonment will not do them justice. They need mental rehabilitation so they have a chance to live normally.
chap 8: How does Ian channel his emotions?
Ian channels his emotions by cutting himself while in solitary confinement. He finds anything he can use to cut himself and attempts to commit suicide and watch himself bleed.
Chap 12: What if Marsha was wealthy?
If Marsha was wealthy the judges and jury would have found this to be a miniscule problem and she would have been able to pay off her dues.
Chap 11: Do you find this case to represent the best or the worst—or something else—of our justice system?
It brings out the best out of the justice system because it shows even with so many corrupt people in charge, you can still get justice for the innocent.
Chap 11: Do you think the 60 Minutes segment hurt or helped Walter's case?
It helped spread the word of walters case and also it opened up new investigations for the people to look into about walters case.
Chap 9: Does it seem like the judge now believes Ralph Myers?
It seems like the Judge believes Ralph Myers because he is direct and well-spoken. Answered all of stevenson's questions (not just no questions, Stevenson asked some yes questions to make it seem like Myers wasn't only saying no). Persuasive, emotional, regret/remorse.
chap 8: Is justice being served when children are sentenced to die in prison?
Justice is not being served in these cases because these children do not deserve to die in jail. If a child commits a crime, it is most probably due to the lack of a proper childhood in which they were raised in horrible circumstances. Never having been taught what is right, these children were bound to make irrational decisions and commit crimes. Life-imprisonment will not do them justice, it will make their mental health worse rather than helping them learn what is right.
Chap 13: Why does Stevenson want to encourage news stories about Walter being released as a free man?
he believes the new stories and public opinion with stories like Walters encourages changes in the criminal justice system. He says the public is more responsive to issues and will have a bigger impact. Lastly, it will give hope for black people and people on death row
Chap 13: Should wrongfully imprisoned people receive financial restitution from the state? If so, how should the amount be determined?
i believe they should because they have been treated for a certain amount of time. I think the amount of time spent on death row is how they should determine how long they should have to pay them and the amount of how much should be based off of their sentence they received.
chap 8: Describe what life was like for each of them before they were arrested. Should that understanding about their backgrounds make a difference in their sentencing?
Life is very bad for Trina, Ian, and Antonio. They are unable to live normal lives because they are stuck in jail. Even if they are let out of prison they are still traumatized from the jail and the bad conditions. Trina's father, Walter was a former boxer whose failed career had turned him into a violent abusive alcoholic in which affected his kid. Her mom's death, abuse, and the desperate circumstances exacerbated trina's emotional and mental health problems. Ian did not have good parental supervision, he was always living in the streets, and he had multiple shoplifting and crime problems. All of the children were born into families in which they could not be properly raised, making them bound to grow up mentally unstable. Their crimes were not purposeful, given that their mental instability has caused them to make their irrational decisions.
Chap 12: Who is the most guilty of wrongdoing in Marsha's case?
Marsha herself because of her harsh past filled with drug addiction and barely any parental care.
