1.11. Wedding Cake Model of Justice
Shanell Sanchez
Wedding Cake Model
Another model of justice was developed by Samuel Walker who attempts to demonstrate how cases move through the system and may be treated differently by media and society. This model referred to as the Wedding Cake Model Theory, is unique because it differentiates types of crimes by how serious the offense is, the offender’s criminal record, and the victim and offender relationship. [1] It is referred to as a wedding cake because of the different tiers or layers on a cake. Take a moment to glance at the wedding cake image below and notice that wedding cakes often have different layers and the bottom tends to be the largest top being the smallest. This section will explain what each layer would resemble in the criminal justice system.
We are going to work our way from the bottom of the cake, or the most significant piece, to the smallest piece on top. In the criminal justice system, the bottom layer of the model would represent the most significant number of cases handled by the system, which often includes misdemeanors and traffic violations. This layer may also be comprised of first-time offenders of less severe crimes. [2] Misdemeanors are the least dangerous types of crimes which can include, depending on where location, public intoxication, prostitution, and graffiti, among others. Imagine getting caught tagging a park wall and never being caught for a crime before, which is where this crime would fall. These are often the crimes most of us have committed, but also most of us may not have been caught or punished. A misdemeanor may result in a monetary fine, rather than jail time.
Bottom-Layer Example (The Largest Portion) Dr. Sanchez
If a person were speeding five over on the interstate, it is unlikely they would get pulled over, or spend time in court. They are likely to pay the fine which admits guilt. However, if they cannot afford the fine, it would require them to go to jail, which brings in a whole host of other issues. The bottom layer of the cake often does not require a person to go to trial because most people with minor crimes are given and accept plea bargains. If one were to go to jail for a misdemeanor, it is typically for less than one year.
When we previously talked about crime control resembling an assembly line, this tier would be an example of that: people get cited for everyday violations, people pay their fines rather than go to court, by paying fines they admit guilt, and their interaction with the system will end. These crimes are the ones that are seen as so common newspapers will rarely report on them. How often would you like to read about someone getting cited for speeding ten mph over? Or being arrested for small possession of marijuana? Although most of these are common marijuana arrests have increased alongside legalization in the U.S. They are annoying to read about from https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/09/24/marijuana-arrests-are-i