Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and stories belong to NBC and Dick Wolf.
A/N: Post Tragedy on the Rye. Serena's walk home. Mainly her point of view. Please review. Thanks. Love, Lawabidingchild.
Crime and Capital Punishment
"C'mon. We'll split a cab," McCoy urged as he was about to leave the Arthur Branch's office.
Serena shook her head. "No thanks. I'll walk." Serena's eyes looked earnest with a touch of sadness. Jack's smile changed a bit as he turned to leave himself.
One of the many things about being a prosecutor is having an open mind and a cold conscience. Something that I don't particularly have. I don't think I've ever been forced to seek the death penalty on two accomplices who were non-violent. Only there to take the stash and beat it. Not my kind of case. I think this is one DA I'll be butting heads with a lot.
I don't think anyone's ever tried to talk me into doing something. I had to choose my job over two lives that didn't deserve an ending to life. A few years in jail would have cut it for me. I believe in justice for all, not just for victims. And if I had to choose, I wouldn't have sought the death penalty. Then again, there was another development in the case and we wound up reducing the sentences on the defendants drastically to place the real mastermind behind bars.
In all my years at the DA's office, I don't think I've seen anyone be more adamant on the death penalty the Arthur or Jack. I've never butted heads with anyone on that issue before. I've never butted heads that much with anyone on my beliefs before. Hell, I don't think I've ever been so emotional over a case before. But that's beside the point here. They sought out a much loathed punishment that I believe people don't deserve. No one should be sentenced to death no matter how much harm they've done. If they've done even worse, life without parole is the highest I'll go. No exceptions. No one should be denied the right to life because they killed a few people. No exceptions. No exceptions. NO EXCEPTIONS!
I don't believe in justice for some. I don't believe taking someone's life because they did something wrong. I don't believe that there should be a constitutional practice of taking the lives of those who commit crime, especially under duress. I hate this kind of justice. Do you?
