This past week I attended “An Evening with Sidney Lumet” at the 92nd
Street Y. Throughout the evening, Mr. Lumet discussed some of the
common themes which weave through his great works, including those
relating to moral lapses of judgment. Mr. Lumet, through many of his
fifty works of cinematic art, told the audience stories of desperate
characters being placed in impossible situations.
While discussing “Dog Day Afternoon,” Mr. Lumet told an interesting
antidote tying these themes into his childhood experiences. At an early
age, Mr. Lumet explained that he learned that there is a moral code not
to squeal and not to rat. This concept hit me hard. Having always been
interested in the area of criminal law, I have reflected on this
statement for the past week. Our American criminal justice system is
centered on this idea that people will rat one another out to save
themselves. Therefore, although plea bargaining is a legally used
bargaining chip, society perceives it as something which is morally
wrong.
Legally, plea bargaining is a necessary tool. Without one person giving
a tip or a lead to police officers, many criminal actors would remain
out on the streets committing crimes. However, because so many people
feel that it is morally wrong, society “bribes” tipsters (through
promises of rewards from police hotlines or reduced sentences) for
ratting out others. Prior to Mr. Lumet’s talk, I had never questioned
plea bargaining – it is part of the system. But now, I see the irony -
this legally sanctioned tool may, in many senses, be perceived as
morally wrong.
