I believe that most Americans realize that our legal system is broken. Courtroom 302 presents an enlightening and sobering account of the overburdened Chicago court system, revealing just how broken it truly is. Although this focuses on Chicago, I would suspect it is representative of big cities across the nation. The 14th Amendment guarantees “equal protection of the laws” but it is obvious that some are more equal than others. The rich or well-connected have advantages beyond “equal”. If their cases aren’t dismissed or just swept under the rug, they have the advantage of top notch attorneys dedicated to their case and also have the means to post bail. On the other hand, the poor usually have to rely on overworked and underpaid public defenders that have dozens of other cases. Bail is often beyond their means.

A large part of the problem is the legal machine itself. Any “cog” that slows down the machine is often looked down on by its peers. Too many attorneys and judges are more concerned with their numbers, whether it is for career advancement or facing re-election, to worry about justice. Fairness is too often trumped by expediency.

Poverty, environment, drugs and mental illness can play a part in predicting future offenders. I am certainly not implying that all poor people become criminals. I live in a major city in a predominantly poor Hispanic neighborhood and my neighbors are all good people. Most of the poor are law-abiding citizens, so it comes down to a choice. In the face of poverty and a criminal environment, some choose to rise above their circumstances, while others succumb to it. Nor do I think that you are destined to criminal activity because you suffer from a mental illness. I simply think that these groups are more vulnerable. I also believe that not nearly enough is done to improve mental health or rehabilitate those addicted to drugs. The government should be spending more to prevent crime instead of building new prisons.

A couple of things in this audiobook surprised me. First, convicted criminals in Chicago only serve half of their sentence due to overcrowding. Second, I was struck by the inequity of sentences. Someone caught with a small amount of drugs can expect to serve a lengthy sentence, while a man who beats his wife to a bloody pulp gets a slap on the wrist in comparison. I certainly don’t condone drug use but how is it worse to possess a gram of cocaine than to beat your wife? Wrong, just wrong.

Okay, rant over. Courtroom 302 really riled me up, which I suspect was the point. Although a lengthy listen, I was captivated by the stories and interviews of the participants. How sad that a defendant took a plea deal only because he knew that he wouldn’t get a fair shake from the Chicago legal system. We as a society should be more concerned with the root causes of criminal activity instead of how to house our criminals. Defendants also deserve to be treated fairly and that includes the presumption of innocence. Courtroom 302 was a real eye-opener and I would highly recommend it.

Mark Kamish as narrator gave a solid performance. I was immediately drawn in to the story and was kept engaged throughout.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.