Tuesday 26 May 2015

Sentencing hearings and video biographies

There was considerable controversy following the recent sentencing hearing of a convicted rapist in Sydney. Several well-known people provided glowing character references for the offender, provoking criticisms of their support:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-barristers-slam-pru-goward-for-criticising-glowing-references-for-rapist-luke-lazarus-20150407-1me2ti.html

In the US, video production houses are seeking to create flattering biographical videos for presentation in court:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/25/nyregion/defendants-using-biographical-videos-to-show-judges-another-side-at-sentencing.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1

Apparently this service has been offered to well-healed customers for some time. Rich defendants can expect elegant, well produced and professionally edited footage to show them in the best possible light, prior to sentencing. Now some video makers are endeavouring to make this potent visual material accessible to the less affluent in society. The nonprofit Silicon Valley De-Bug is a criminal justice group that is seeking to produce biographical videos for poorer defendants, to address the inequality of arms - and of production values.

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