trials in the United States
It is essential to understand that numerous trials in the United States are usually opened to the public. However, in the past, things were different. For instance, if a person wanted to view trial proceedings, he or she had to attend physically. But today televisions and the media have made trials accessible to a greater audience. Many higher-profile cases have almost become like sporting events where spectators choose sides and highly invest in the outcome. Importantly, the media effect on the outcome of trial cases should not be undermined. The media can contribute positively in different situations, such as providing the location of a missing person; however, under certain circumstances, the media can affect investigations negatively and have an impact on the outcome of a given case (Strömberg, 2015). Orenthal James Sampson’s case is an excellent example of how media can affect the direction of a case. Notably, this particular case was strongly influenced by the media, with some media companies labeling it “The Trial of the Century.” The increased pressure from the media was attributed to numerous mistakes. For instance, in order to avoid the press from taking photos of the victim’s body, the police quickly covered it with a blanket and, as a result contaminating the evidence (Strömberg, 2015). The victim’s body, as one of the primary pieces of evidence, was removed from viable evidence. Another way in which the media influenced this case was by making the trial a race issue (Beke, 2014). The ‘media raised numerous racial related questions, and this changed the entire direction of the case. The media was also publishing stories before confirming exact details, and this action misled the view and perception of the public.
OJ Sampson’s case was indeed a trial of the century; it weighed and sharpened the claws of the United States judicial system. It similarly revealed how U.S. investigators mishandle critical evidence and hence leading to a biased outcome. The police investigation was a massive failure as it did not follow and involve all the processes and precautions. First, the investigators did not collect and secure all the vital crime scene evidence. For instance, they did not collect the fingerprint sample from the crime scene. Approximately 1.5 mL blood sample from the vial of evidence was misplaced, and the police could not reject the notion of missing blood sample because there was no evidence on how much Simpson’s blood was collected. The public also interfered with the crime scene. In order to avoid such instances, the investigator would have covered and protected the crime scene, only allowing people with access to enter. They could similarly have documented all the relevant evidence gathered from the scene. Although the police investigators made mistakes, the media also influenced the outcome of the case. The media showcased this case as a racial issue by raising numerous racial subjects related to the case. Nevertheless, the success of any given case significantly depends on the extent of the investigation conducted. Investigators must adhere to all the requirements, processes, and procedures critical to an investigation.