At the same time, the very same criminal procedure that fails to protect the innocent often enables habitual offenders to remain free. Viewed together, these two situations reveal the central failure of the criminal justice system. When criminal procedure fails, it does more than produce unjust outcomes in individual cases. Above all, institutional accountability must be enforced across all stages of the criminal justice process. Until these structural reforms are undertaken, criminal procedure will continue to fail the public it is meant to serve, leaving justice uncertain and public confidence deeply shaken.

Source: The Patriot January 13, 2026 08:39 UTC