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The Humanity of Justice
Against the backdrop of his most haunting, high-profile murder and child abuse cases, a veteran prosecutor goes beyond an insider’s reflection to shine a light on the humanlike qualities personified in the U.S. criminal justice system and what this means for our future.
The Humanity of Justice is a procedural true-crime book told through the eyes and heart of a veteran criminal prosecutor who cares about the people he meets and their life-altering circumstances. Burke E. Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in southern California, takes the reader inside the courtroom for some of the most haunting criminal cases in the state as well as the nation, including: a highly respected church leader who brutally murders his wife for the insurance money while their baby sleeps peacefully in another room; a twisted father who sexually molests his daughter’s own friends at her slumber parties; a former police chief who drowns his wife of thirty years in their backyard spa; and a young man who sadistically tortures and kills a helpless three-year-old boy, yet manages to dodge the death penalty.
Strunsky’s own impassioned social and moral commentary is woven throughout this thought-provoking book on issues significant to the world of criminal justice. Even in the midst of the darkest stories, the voices and courage of the victims and those who love them will leave the reader touched and inspired.
100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Humanity of Justice is a procedural true-crime book told through the eyes and heart of a veteran criminal prosecutor who cares about the people he meets and their life-altering circumstances. Burke E. Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in southern California, takes the reader inside the courtroom for some of the most haunting criminal cases in the state as well as the nation, including: a highly respected church leader who brutally murders his wife for the insurance money while their baby sleeps peacefully in another room; a twisted father who sexually molests his daughter’s own friends at her slumber parties; a former police chief who drowns his wife of thirty years in their backyard spa; and a young man who sadistically tortures and kills a helpless three-year-old boy, yet manages to dodge the death penalty.
Strunsky’s own impassioned social and moral commentary is woven throughout this thought-provoking book on issues significant to the world of criminal justice. Even in the midst of the darkest stories, the voices and courage of the victims and those who love them will leave the reader touched and inspired.
100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
- GenresTrue Crime
277 pages, ebook
First published July 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 5, 2012
The author makes a passionate plea for improvement in the American criminal justice system. He believes fervently that it works and requires only a little fine tuning. In making this case, he shows a fine eye for the details of marriages growing stale, the horror of child molestation, the paranoid public mind-set that allows for children to accuse adults of this, the fine lines that must be made and perhaps crossed in the pursuit of justice, as for example in the case of the application of the death penalty in California, or of "clergy-penitent" privilege, and the practical difference between the right to bear arms and the too easy access to a hand-gun when in a moment of "diminished capacity" or extreme rage.
The examples are told with great power of description and characterization; the case histories have provided for the often twisting and unexpected plots. But ultimately this is an attempt to explain; it is non-fiction written powerfully. Except that it does not persuade.
It is not for lack of passion. Perhaps a reader might be persuaded that the American judicial system works and needs only a few tweaks with better argument, more organized reasoning. In the end, this reviewer is not persuaded that lawyers and the legal system is about justice. The author quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes who might have the last word on this. He famously told Felix Frankfurter on his way to the Supreme Court that he/Felix would not go to uphold Justice but to uphold the Law. That is, as lawyers like to say, the gravamen of the issue. Additionally, it will not be so easy to regain the public trust in the system as the author passionately desires; it will, alas, be impossible to cure the system of its apparent indifference to human tragedy.
But it is bracing to read this book. The author is one lawyer that has not given up. Perhaps he will continue to campaign for limitations on handguns, reduction of truancy, more and better resources to be provided to Child Protective Services. Perhaps, more law-makers will read his book and be persuaded to a similar approach towards the Law.
The examples are told with great power of description and characterization; the case histories have provided for the often twisting and unexpected plots. But ultimately this is an attempt to explain; it is non-fiction written powerfully. Except that it does not persuade.
It is not for lack of passion. Perhaps a reader might be persuaded that the American judicial system works and needs only a few tweaks with better argument, more organized reasoning. In the end, this reviewer is not persuaded that lawyers and the legal system is about justice. The author quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes who might have the last word on this. He famously told Felix Frankfurter on his way to the Supreme Court that he/Felix would not go to uphold Justice but to uphold the Law. That is, as lawyers like to say, the gravamen of the issue. Additionally, it will not be so easy to regain the public trust in the system as the author passionately desires; it will, alas, be impossible to cure the system of its apparent indifference to human tragedy.
But it is bracing to read this book. The author is one lawyer that has not given up. Perhaps he will continue to campaign for limitations on handguns, reduction of truancy, more and better resources to be provided to Child Protective Services. Perhaps, more law-makers will read his book and be persuaded to a similar approach towards the Law.
September 9, 2012
Restoration
Read the newspapers, listen to the `instant overage' reports on the radio news, watch the daily rundown on the 11 o'clock television broadcasts, or observe the stories on the innumerable crime series shows throughout the television networks - we are daily saturated with crime and incredible acts of violence, and often times are left to wonder why our judicial system is so inept at deciding who is convicted and who goes free and the crowding of the jails so that hardened criminals are set free due to lack of space in the prisons. So often the news is about lawsuits brought after the fact and the way that lawyers get around the conviction of fairly obviously guilty criminals. It is disillusioning - until now.
For everyone who has lost faith in the government and that branch of the government called the judicial system Burke E Strunsky's book THE HUMANITY OF JUSTICE will serve as a buoy, a life raft, a Gilead for those who think that our systems consistently fail us. Strunsky is a prosecuting attorney who redefines the roll of the courts through the eyes of a compassionate lawyer who returns the nidus of our legal system to the most important body - the jury of citizens who decide the fate of the accused. He shares a book full of cases (not invented, but reported0 that demonstrate his passion for justice and his belief in the humanity of the American legal system. Yes, they are impressive enough as `short stories' to be a crime novel, but since these are experiences Strunsky has shared that gain poignancy that will alter the negative opinions of many who read it.
Strunsky states, `The portrayal of violence on TV and the glorified killings so graphically animated in videogames and movies have desensitized us, especially the young, to the realities of violence. While I sometimes fear greatly for the future, I'm also pragmatically optimistic that an examination of the criminal justice system and its human qualities can provide us with a wellspring of hope...a hope that serves as a counterweight to even the most horrific of crimes.' And later on he clarifies this by saying, `Because when if comes to winning trials, it rarely domes down to the legal and intellectual issues. It has more to do with something humans instinctively express and respond to - it's called EMOTION. At the end of the day, emotion and impassioned pleas are what wins the hearts and minds of juries, not dense, pragmatic, fact-laden arguments.'
From this introductory platform the author takes us through nine chapters, each dealing with a particular kind of crime and each demonstrating to the reader the true meaning of legalese and its outcome: circumstantial evidence, how the seeds of corruption can poison our courtrooms, emotion form the jury and how justice comes form the heart, the importance of acknowledging the fact that the jury is composed of `We the people', the uses and abuse of language, the conundrum of capital punishment and how it is decided and carried out, the negative role that on the edge religious beliefs can influence the outcome of a case, violence and children and the desperate need for protecting them, and the madness of the massive distribution of handguns and how that affects our crime rate.
Strunsky relates these various categories with real cases and writes about them with such polished prose that each case becomes tattooed on our minds. He is a compassionate human being who has done a great service in sharing his thoughts on the humanity of justice. `The pain felt by the victims and those who love them is immense. But so is their strength and hope. While people may be vastly different in terms of personality and outlook, social and economic status, political and religious leanings - we all seem to share something stronger that universally bonds us. I can only describe it as something that, when called forth, is able to shine light on the most brutal darkness.' This book should be required reading for all of us who have felt the universal angst of how our globe is crumbling with crime that seems out of control. It is IN our control.
Grady Harp
Read the newspapers, listen to the `instant overage' reports on the radio news, watch the daily rundown on the 11 o'clock television broadcasts, or observe the stories on the innumerable crime series shows throughout the television networks - we are daily saturated with crime and incredible acts of violence, and often times are left to wonder why our judicial system is so inept at deciding who is convicted and who goes free and the crowding of the jails so that hardened criminals are set free due to lack of space in the prisons. So often the news is about lawsuits brought after the fact and the way that lawyers get around the conviction of fairly obviously guilty criminals. It is disillusioning - until now.
For everyone who has lost faith in the government and that branch of the government called the judicial system Burke E Strunsky's book THE HUMANITY OF JUSTICE will serve as a buoy, a life raft, a Gilead for those who think that our systems consistently fail us. Strunsky is a prosecuting attorney who redefines the roll of the courts through the eyes of a compassionate lawyer who returns the nidus of our legal system to the most important body - the jury of citizens who decide the fate of the accused. He shares a book full of cases (not invented, but reported0 that demonstrate his passion for justice and his belief in the humanity of the American legal system. Yes, they are impressive enough as `short stories' to be a crime novel, but since these are experiences Strunsky has shared that gain poignancy that will alter the negative opinions of many who read it.
Strunsky states, `The portrayal of violence on TV and the glorified killings so graphically animated in videogames and movies have desensitized us, especially the young, to the realities of violence. While I sometimes fear greatly for the future, I'm also pragmatically optimistic that an examination of the criminal justice system and its human qualities can provide us with a wellspring of hope...a hope that serves as a counterweight to even the most horrific of crimes.' And later on he clarifies this by saying, `Because when if comes to winning trials, it rarely domes down to the legal and intellectual issues. It has more to do with something humans instinctively express and respond to - it's called EMOTION. At the end of the day, emotion and impassioned pleas are what wins the hearts and minds of juries, not dense, pragmatic, fact-laden arguments.'
From this introductory platform the author takes us through nine chapters, each dealing with a particular kind of crime and each demonstrating to the reader the true meaning of legalese and its outcome: circumstantial evidence, how the seeds of corruption can poison our courtrooms, emotion form the jury and how justice comes form the heart, the importance of acknowledging the fact that the jury is composed of `We the people', the uses and abuse of language, the conundrum of capital punishment and how it is decided and carried out, the negative role that on the edge religious beliefs can influence the outcome of a case, violence and children and the desperate need for protecting them, and the madness of the massive distribution of handguns and how that affects our crime rate.
Strunsky relates these various categories with real cases and writes about them with such polished prose that each case becomes tattooed on our minds. He is a compassionate human being who has done a great service in sharing his thoughts on the humanity of justice. `The pain felt by the victims and those who love them is immense. But so is their strength and hope. While people may be vastly different in terms of personality and outlook, social and economic status, political and religious leanings - we all seem to share something stronger that universally bonds us. I can only describe it as something that, when called forth, is able to shine light on the most brutal darkness.' This book should be required reading for all of us who have felt the universal angst of how our globe is crumbling with crime that seems out of control. It is IN our control.
Grady Harp
October 25, 2012
I have to start out by saying that this is in no way a book for the faint of heart, anybody who can not stomach true horror, at it's worse, should definitely not read this book. If you are a CSI, or Law and Order fan, or any other type of true crime, or law shows, movies, or books, or law and The United States justice system, this is a book you will not forget.
Burke E Strunsky, is a senior deputy district attorney, in California, who has witnessed an actual crime, and has seen inside the horrific minds of mankind. On every level. I believe that if I were to take up a career as a criminal attorney, and I read this book, I may be thinking twice about my choices.
Burke, takes you deep down in the sick and twisted lives and crimes of some of the most despicable acts known to man. There are some certain warnings you should heed before picking up this book. Mainly the fact that most of the heinous crimes involve children, and since Burke E Strunsky has been in the courtroom and witnessed these first hand, you will be reading first hand accounts and he doesn't seem to leave much detail out. A lot of this may tend to be unsettling, however, the purpose of this book isn't to necessarily make you ill, as it is to make you aware of our justice system, and how "humanlike" it really is, hence, not being perfect.
Along with lots of footnotes, (my favorite!), and facts and the author's experience, there is lot to learn from this book, a lot to take in, so it will not be one of those, "read in a couple hours" type of books. It is written very, very well, to well I thought at some times. But, then I just reminded myself that the author is an attorney and is very well versed in this type of genre.
We see so many criminal cases in the news, attorneys that we sometimes might tend to wonder, "What in the world ever possessed them to take such a case??" Even though we know deep down, somebody has to do it. But while reading this book, I realized that this courageous attorney actually gets several things accomplished. One of which, at least to me, was that he created the book in such a way that make us realize how human attorneys, and the justice system are. I would have to say that this became very apparent during the first few pages of the book, which was actually very funny, to say the least!
From there he just jumps right in and starts the reader on a journey that may make your stomach turn at times, but still keeps you turning each page just to catch a glimpse of what is coming next.
I believe the most interesting to me was how he and his then, girlfriend, were witnesses to a shooting, and how our minds play tricks on us. Even for 2 firsthand witness accounts, 1 of them being an attorney, neither were able to positively identify the shooter, or even the actual gun he was using. Which then is explained more further, and you realize that many people have been found guilty of crimes they never committed, simply because somebody, "thought" they saw something. Not that we as human beings, try to come up with fake descriptions, or distort facts, but when that we tend to think we saw things that we didn't really see. Especially when it happens during some sort of trauma.
He describes at great length, different cases, how he was affected, and does an outstanding job with recounts of the court room. There will be a lot that hit home, especially when the victims are children.
Burke E Strunsky, donates 100% of the proceeds to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non profit organization to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Each page of this book struck a chord with me, and I would love to read more by this author. I am hoping he writes a few more, maybe touching on other types of cases as well. This could make for a very interesting and haunting series!
I recommend this book to anybody who does enjoy learning about our justice system, the courts, and cases and of course, the attorneys perspective.
** I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review **
Burke E Strunsky, is a senior deputy district attorney, in California, who has witnessed an actual crime, and has seen inside the horrific minds of mankind. On every level. I believe that if I were to take up a career as a criminal attorney, and I read this book, I may be thinking twice about my choices.
Burke, takes you deep down in the sick and twisted lives and crimes of some of the most despicable acts known to man. There are some certain warnings you should heed before picking up this book. Mainly the fact that most of the heinous crimes involve children, and since Burke E Strunsky has been in the courtroom and witnessed these first hand, you will be reading first hand accounts and he doesn't seem to leave much detail out. A lot of this may tend to be unsettling, however, the purpose of this book isn't to necessarily make you ill, as it is to make you aware of our justice system, and how "humanlike" it really is, hence, not being perfect.
Along with lots of footnotes, (my favorite!), and facts and the author's experience, there is lot to learn from this book, a lot to take in, so it will not be one of those, "read in a couple hours" type of books. It is written very, very well, to well I thought at some times. But, then I just reminded myself that the author is an attorney and is very well versed in this type of genre.
We see so many criminal cases in the news, attorneys that we sometimes might tend to wonder, "What in the world ever possessed them to take such a case??" Even though we know deep down, somebody has to do it. But while reading this book, I realized that this courageous attorney actually gets several things accomplished. One of which, at least to me, was that he created the book in such a way that make us realize how human attorneys, and the justice system are. I would have to say that this became very apparent during the first few pages of the book, which was actually very funny, to say the least!
From there he just jumps right in and starts the reader on a journey that may make your stomach turn at times, but still keeps you turning each page just to catch a glimpse of what is coming next.
I believe the most interesting to me was how he and his then, girlfriend, were witnesses to a shooting, and how our minds play tricks on us. Even for 2 firsthand witness accounts, 1 of them being an attorney, neither were able to positively identify the shooter, or even the actual gun he was using. Which then is explained more further, and you realize that many people have been found guilty of crimes they never committed, simply because somebody, "thought" they saw something. Not that we as human beings, try to come up with fake descriptions, or distort facts, but when that we tend to think we saw things that we didn't really see. Especially when it happens during some sort of trauma.
He describes at great length, different cases, how he was affected, and does an outstanding job with recounts of the court room. There will be a lot that hit home, especially when the victims are children.
Burke E Strunsky, donates 100% of the proceeds to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non profit organization to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Each page of this book struck a chord with me, and I would love to read more by this author. I am hoping he writes a few more, maybe touching on other types of cases as well. This could make for a very interesting and haunting series!
I recommend this book to anybody who does enjoy learning about our justice system, the courts, and cases and of course, the attorneys perspective.
** I received a copy of this book in return for my honest review **
June 26, 2015
This is a fascinating read. I learned a lot, thought about things in a new way, and continue to think about things after reading. The book is very well researched. The author does a great job of switching his voice from storytelling with excellent word choice to factual presentation to persuasive argument. The chapters are long and involved, but thought provoking. I particularly enjoyed the first three chapters.
I love true crime stories. I watch 48 Hrs, Dateline, etc. kinds of tv programs. I read true crime books. This book was right in my realm of interest. The stories in this book are true, sad, and shocking. Sensitive readers who are not fans of the tv shows mentioned or have trouble stomaching violence and crimes against children may not enjoy this book. Readers who have extreme views about justice may find Mr. Strunky's views interesting. I love that the author is a champion for violence against children based on his vast experience of prosecuting those who commit these crimes.
The author's views are definitely based on the law, based on extensive research, and his real experiences in the courtroom. I do hope Mr. Strunky writes more books in the future!
A few things that were bothersome:
-the formatting is off. Paragraph indentations are inconsistent and there are spacing issues within paragraphs throughout.
-the author likes to use italics to emphasize important thoughts and major points. There are a lot of each, ergo there is an abundance of italics. I found this annoying and unnecessary.
-the author injects a few personal stories that have little to do with the overall point of the book (specifically his running for public office and the Ira Gershwin story). These weakened his point. I would have liked another story from his work experience to strengthen the message.
-a few of the stories in the later chapters do not emphasize the message of the chapter enough. I think this is an editing issue. The stories are fine, but the message gets lost. This is especially true with the father with the Meth problem.
-the ending was lacking of a proper conclusion. The book just kind of ended. I was looking forward to a wrap-up, but it just wasn't written. This was disappointing.
Overall, this is a great book that examines our justice system and the different aspects of it. It is thought provoking. It would be a great book for a high school class to study. It's a great book to read if you want to know more about how the law works. And if you are thinking about getting involved in social justice issues, this would be a great book to read to get you started.
I love true crime stories. I watch 48 Hrs, Dateline, etc. kinds of tv programs. I read true crime books. This book was right in my realm of interest. The stories in this book are true, sad, and shocking. Sensitive readers who are not fans of the tv shows mentioned or have trouble stomaching violence and crimes against children may not enjoy this book. Readers who have extreme views about justice may find Mr. Strunky's views interesting. I love that the author is a champion for violence against children based on his vast experience of prosecuting those who commit these crimes.
The author's views are definitely based on the law, based on extensive research, and his real experiences in the courtroom. I do hope Mr. Strunky writes more books in the future!
A few things that were bothersome:
-the formatting is off. Paragraph indentations are inconsistent and there are spacing issues within paragraphs throughout.
-the author likes to use italics to emphasize important thoughts and major points. There are a lot of each, ergo there is an abundance of italics. I found this annoying and unnecessary.
-the author injects a few personal stories that have little to do with the overall point of the book (specifically his running for public office and the Ira Gershwin story). These weakened his point. I would have liked another story from his work experience to strengthen the message.
-a few of the stories in the later chapters do not emphasize the message of the chapter enough. I think this is an editing issue. The stories are fine, but the message gets lost. This is especially true with the father with the Meth problem.
-the ending was lacking of a proper conclusion. The book just kind of ended. I was looking forward to a wrap-up, but it just wasn't written. This was disappointing.
Overall, this is a great book that examines our justice system and the different aspects of it. It is thought provoking. It would be a great book for a high school class to study. It's a great book to read if you want to know more about how the law works. And if you are thinking about getting involved in social justice issues, this would be a great book to read to get you started.
August 5, 2013
The Humanity of Justice is written in first person and falls into the genre of nonfiction/true crime. The author, Burke E. Strunsky, does a fine job at highlighting how America's legal system incorporates many elements of basic humanity and how that is a strength. Strunsky brings his many years of expertise alive in the book by providing, as any good lawyer does, evidence for all of his claims and stances using quotations, case examples, and footnote citations (though not an overabundance). When he comments on a flaw that he sees in the judicial process, he makes an effort to suggest specific ways in which the problem may be fixed. I learned many things from Strunsky's book, both about the law and about human nature. There are also plenty of historical facts and even a musical theater tidbit implanted into the story.
Reading the introduction and afterword are important to this book. The introduction provides a well-deserved, much-needed warning about the “squeamish” nature of the cases covered. While most readers may not take heed, it is crucial to know whether or not you can handle the brutality and level of details involved in cases covering child molestation, murder, abuse and neglect, etc. He tries to handle the details with tact, but supplies what is necessary for the reader to realize the gravity of the case. The last chapter is about gun control and seems like an abrupt place to end the book, but the reader will have more closure and a better sense of an ending if they read the afterword.
Strunsky definitely asserts himself as an authority on the subject of law while still explaining the principles of court procedure and other concepts in a manner that the average reader can fully understand. Nothing in Strunsky's book, save for possibly the last chapter which seems to serve as a personal platform, lacks use in the text. It is a well-thought out, purposeful, informative book with crisp writing and Strunsky demonstrates a command of language that exceeded my expectations. He does an admirable job of staying neutral enough throughout the book while still demonstrating that he is a person, a human, before anything else. I could easily see law students reading this book and gleaning insight from it, but I also enjoyed it immensely and would highly recommend it to those not in the field as well.
Reading the introduction and afterword are important to this book. The introduction provides a well-deserved, much-needed warning about the “squeamish” nature of the cases covered. While most readers may not take heed, it is crucial to know whether or not you can handle the brutality and level of details involved in cases covering child molestation, murder, abuse and neglect, etc. He tries to handle the details with tact, but supplies what is necessary for the reader to realize the gravity of the case. The last chapter is about gun control and seems like an abrupt place to end the book, but the reader will have more closure and a better sense of an ending if they read the afterword.
Strunsky definitely asserts himself as an authority on the subject of law while still explaining the principles of court procedure and other concepts in a manner that the average reader can fully understand. Nothing in Strunsky's book, save for possibly the last chapter which seems to serve as a personal platform, lacks use in the text. It is a well-thought out, purposeful, informative book with crisp writing and Strunsky demonstrates a command of language that exceeded my expectations. He does an admirable job of staying neutral enough throughout the book while still demonstrating that he is a person, a human, before anything else. I could easily see law students reading this book and gleaning insight from it, but I also enjoyed it immensely and would highly recommend it to those not in the field as well.
February 24, 2016
3.5 STARS - rounded up
HUMANITY OF JUSTICE: is the debut novel by BURKE E. STRUNSKY, whose trials have been featured on Dateline NBC and 20/20 and who’s written articles for Huffington Post Crime. Strunsky, a District Attorney, specializes in homicides and crimes against children. The book’s dedication is to the victims of crimes who inspire him. This 277-page book, divided into nine chapters, asks us to look at ourselves. In a day and age when society is so desensitized to violence and inhuman cruelty, Strunsky finds that, in his pragmatic optimism, we can all find a wellspring of hope that “examination of the criminal justice system and its human qualities can provide.”
I think that the book reflects the author’s altruistic intent: “100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation...to help prevent child abuse and neglect.” The first chapter gives us a look at the author’s point of view. He then provides anecdotes, citing real cases that explore topics from Satanists, wrongful convictions to eye-witness testimony and more. I do worry that the author makes certain assumptions of “unpredictable, transitory passions of human beings” that may put off some readers, especially considering the volatile debate over gun control. Some may have trouble finding objectivity in his argument: “I bristle whenever people...try to mitigate their own responsibility” but then says that handguns spread human tragedy, which may be seen as mitigating criminals’ actions by blaming handguns. To me, saying victims die because a handgun was available oversimplifies the issue. One thing I learned from this book is that nothing is simple about violence and victims. That aside, the vignettes Strunsky presents are thought-provoking glimpses into criminal justice in America. The author’s perspective takes a critical look at why crimes happen and what he feels we can do about it. The inspiring theme woven throughout is the strength and conviction of victims and the lessons we can learn from their ability to stand back up in the face of society’s evils. This is a critical look at our justice system and a collection of anecdotes that give readers hope. I enjoyed reading this.
HUMANITY OF JUSTICE: is the debut novel by BURKE E. STRUNSKY, whose trials have been featured on Dateline NBC and 20/20 and who’s written articles for Huffington Post Crime. Strunsky, a District Attorney, specializes in homicides and crimes against children. The book’s dedication is to the victims of crimes who inspire him. This 277-page book, divided into nine chapters, asks us to look at ourselves. In a day and age when society is so desensitized to violence and inhuman cruelty, Strunsky finds that, in his pragmatic optimism, we can all find a wellspring of hope that “examination of the criminal justice system and its human qualities can provide.”
I think that the book reflects the author’s altruistic intent: “100% of the proceeds from this book will be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation...to help prevent child abuse and neglect.” The first chapter gives us a look at the author’s point of view. He then provides anecdotes, citing real cases that explore topics from Satanists, wrongful convictions to eye-witness testimony and more. I do worry that the author makes certain assumptions of “unpredictable, transitory passions of human beings” that may put off some readers, especially considering the volatile debate over gun control. Some may have trouble finding objectivity in his argument: “I bristle whenever people...try to mitigate their own responsibility” but then says that handguns spread human tragedy, which may be seen as mitigating criminals’ actions by blaming handguns. To me, saying victims die because a handgun was available oversimplifies the issue. One thing I learned from this book is that nothing is simple about violence and victims. That aside, the vignettes Strunsky presents are thought-provoking glimpses into criminal justice in America. The author’s perspective takes a critical look at why crimes happen and what he feels we can do about it. The inspiring theme woven throughout is the strength and conviction of victims and the lessons we can learn from their ability to stand back up in the face of society’s evils. This is a critical look at our justice system and a collection of anecdotes that give readers hope. I enjoyed reading this.
August 21, 2012
Have you ever studied the law or have you ever been interested in real crime cases and want to know what is really going on during a trial? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions then do I have a book for you. The Humanity of Justice written by Burke E. Strunsky is an informative and entertaining look at the law and what goes on during a trial. How evidence is presented and how there is no guarantee that jury will see things the same way you do.
Here is a brief summary of the book.
The Humanity of Justice is a procedural true-crime book told through the eyes and heart of a veteran criminal prosecutor who cares about the people he meets and their life-altering circumstances. Burke E. Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in southern California, takes the reader inside the courtroom for some of the most haunting criminal cases in the state as well as the nation.
This book was very interesting in that it combined the legal aspects of the law with true life crime situations. There were several cases that Strunsky had prosecuted cited. Several of these cases had been showcased on news programs as like Dateline NBC and 20/20. In fact I found myself going to my computer and looking up the television footage of these cases. I like how this is a book about the law that did more than spout legal terms that a normal person would not understand. Even if you are not a legal scholar you could still read and understand this book.
I also love the fact that 100% if the proceeds from this book are be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Here is a brief summary of the book.
The Humanity of Justice is a procedural true-crime book told through the eyes and heart of a veteran criminal prosecutor who cares about the people he meets and their life-altering circumstances. Burke E. Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in southern California, takes the reader inside the courtroom for some of the most haunting criminal cases in the state as well as the nation.
This book was very interesting in that it combined the legal aspects of the law with true life crime situations. There were several cases that Strunsky had prosecuted cited. Several of these cases had been showcased on news programs as like Dateline NBC and 20/20. In fact I found myself going to my computer and looking up the television footage of these cases. I like how this is a book about the law that did more than spout legal terms that a normal person would not understand. Even if you are not a legal scholar you could still read and understand this book.
I also love the fact that 100% if the proceeds from this book are be donated to The Humanity of Justice Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
September 6, 2012
I think I’ve mentioned before just how much I love reading and learning about real crimes! So, when I was offered to review this book, I jumped at the chance!!
The Humanity of Justice is a true-crime book that contains information about some of the biggest legal cases in our history. Written by Burke Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in LA, he has a unique take on legal cases, the people behind the scenes, the victims, criminals and families.
I learned so much from reading this book and gained a new understanding about many parts of the law. I really liked how Strunsky explained our Jury system, which he calls “The Heart of American Justice”. He explains how the jury, is actually the “we”, in “we the people” – which basically means that WE are the deciding factors in what punishment criminals receive. During the process of being a juror, even if you say you will be impartial, each of us have a moral compass and we use it everyday to make decisions – including in a juror room. Strunsky feels that having these morals is a necessary component that helps us process the information logically, and therein, make a decision based on not just the letter of the law, but the social and psychological implications as well.
I really enjoyed delving deeper into the intricacies of the law and how everyone involved, and their humanity (or lack there of) effects every aspect during a criminal trial. Two very big thumbs up! Loved it!
100% of the proceeds of this book will be donated to The Humanity Of Justice Foundation, that helps prevent child abuse and neglect.
The Humanity of Justice is a true-crime book that contains information about some of the biggest legal cases in our history. Written by Burke Strunsky, a senior deputy district attorney in LA, he has a unique take on legal cases, the people behind the scenes, the victims, criminals and families.
I learned so much from reading this book and gained a new understanding about many parts of the law. I really liked how Strunsky explained our Jury system, which he calls “The Heart of American Justice”. He explains how the jury, is actually the “we”, in “we the people” – which basically means that WE are the deciding factors in what punishment criminals receive. During the process of being a juror, even if you say you will be impartial, each of us have a moral compass and we use it everyday to make decisions – including in a juror room. Strunsky feels that having these morals is a necessary component that helps us process the information logically, and therein, make a decision based on not just the letter of the law, but the social and psychological implications as well.
I really enjoyed delving deeper into the intricacies of the law and how everyone involved, and their humanity (or lack there of) effects every aspect during a criminal trial. Two very big thumbs up! Loved it!
100% of the proceeds of this book will be donated to The Humanity Of Justice Foundation, that helps prevent child abuse and neglect.
September 9, 2012
This is a true crime novel told by a veteran prosecutor. What's unique about this book is that the cases they refer to are based on some of the biggest legal cases in history.
These stories will really grab you into the book, and captivate you into the cases of murder and child abuse. It's devastating and heartbreaking to read about such extreme violence, but that's what thrilling crime novels are all about.
I wasn't able to put this book down without knowing how each case was handled in court, and if the justice was served to those who I felt deserved it. Strunkey goes above and beyond to see retribution for the victims.
Not only was I completely engrossed in each case itself, but I also became supremely connected to Strunkey as he shares his own personal and social views on each case he is involved on.
This is crime thriller novel that I also found quite educational. I learned a lot from Burke Strunkey since he uses such great detail of the justice system. You analyzes and explains his process of being a prosecutor which makes it so easy to love Burke even more.
I recommend this to anyone interested in the justice system, with a riveting and hair-raising, real life stories. Burke Strunkey writes a one of a kind adddicting novel that enthralled me from chapter one.
Read more reviews at Stuffed Shelves
These stories will really grab you into the book, and captivate you into the cases of murder and child abuse. It's devastating and heartbreaking to read about such extreme violence, but that's what thrilling crime novels are all about.
I wasn't able to put this book down without knowing how each case was handled in court, and if the justice was served to those who I felt deserved it. Strunkey goes above and beyond to see retribution for the victims.
Not only was I completely engrossed in each case itself, but I also became supremely connected to Strunkey as he shares his own personal and social views on each case he is involved on.
This is crime thriller novel that I also found quite educational. I learned a lot from Burke Strunkey since he uses such great detail of the justice system. You analyzes and explains his process of being a prosecutor which makes it so easy to love Burke even more.
I recommend this to anyone interested in the justice system, with a riveting and hair-raising, real life stories. Burke Strunkey writes a one of a kind adddicting novel that enthralled me from chapter one.
Read more reviews at Stuffed Shelves
October 2, 2012
Although lawyers seem to have certain stigma attached to them, what they work for is what makes them some unsung heroes in our society. Those passionate about seeking justice truly endure more than what we think. They hear the details of some gruesome stories that are not fiction but rather real life. They then have to live with the outcomes good or bad and always wonder whether or not they did enough to seek justice. This book by Burke Strunsky really gives you an inside look into some really interesting cases but also does a great job at making you understand the legalities behind all the legal jargon. You really do come away knowing more than you expect from a book, at least I know I did. We read about cases like these all the times in the papers or hear about them in the news but never really get as much depth as is given in this book which really makes you appreciate the judicial system we have and everything that goes into getting things done. A really great "learning" novel and the best part is that all of the proceeds go to a very worthy cause, The Humanity of Justice Foundation that helps to prevent child abuse and neglect.
April 14, 2014
I really enjoyed the book, until I got to the last chapter and it became a soapbox for gun control. I enjoy studying forensics and learning about how our legal system works and/or is supposed to work. I do not enjoy books that are about pushing a political or legal agenda (unless I know that going in), and that's how the last chapter came across. Still giving it 4 stars, though, because overall it was a good read.
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August 14, 2012I think I enjoyed reading this book and had few disagreements, but overall i think its not bad.
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