Brain Droppings: On The Perp Walk

Photo: F LoBuono, Arles, Provence, France.

The French often get a bad rap in this country. They are often seen as aloof and arrogant. They have pissed off some Americans to the point of renaming french fries as freedom fries. Personally, I think much of it is unfounded. I have not traveled extensively in France but have enough to say that I find the French to be warm, friendly, and highly cultured. Sure, they have a way about them, but it's their way. There IS a certain protocol when dealing with the French. They expect you to understand it and exercise it. They expect you to have a certain level of politeness and respect when dealing with them. And, if you give them their due, they meet you more than half way. That's when you feel the warmth and consideration. If you don't, then they will give you the stereotypical aloof, cold, persona.

With this in mind, I have to agree with them on their disdain for our so-called perp walks, i.e. parading a suspect around in handcuffs before the press and the public. They were outraged when this happened recently with IMF and potential candidate for the French Presidency, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Now, let me make this perfectly clear: I AM NOT defending Strauss-Kahn. What he is accused of is absolutely heinous. If found guilty, he should be punished to the maximum extent of the law. However, this leads directly to my point. In this country, we are INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty. So, theoretically, we are parading around an "innocent" man in handcuffs to be degraded in front of the world's media.

This, indeed, offends the French sense of justice. As it does mine. I understand the need for security. Suspects must be secured in a way that protects the public and prevents the chance for escape. And I know that suspects must, from time to time, be transported from one venue to another. However, when the police need to, for security or other reasons, they can transport suspects away from the prying eyes of the media and the public. Why don't they do that all of the time? If, and when, a suspect is CONVICTED, then you can make a spectacle of him with a publicly shaming perp walk.

When confronted by the French's disdain for the so-called perp walk, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg responded by saying "if you don't want to do the walk, then don't do the crime". Well, the problem with that is WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET IF HE ACTUALLY DID THE CRIME! The Constitution is quite clear on the law: we are INNOCENT until proven guilty - not too hard to interpret.

It all reminds me of my recent trip to the Tower of London. Most of you know that the Tower is the place where many of England's political prisoners where held and eventually beheaded. What I learned during the tour was that 2 different type of executions were actually held there. One type, as was used to execute 3 of Henry VIII's wives, took place in private within the walls of the Tower. The other (and much more common) was very public where victims were marched from the Tower and paraded before rabid, screaming crowds awaiting them on Tower Hill. These were designed to add, if you will, insult to injury. But at least it was done AFTER you were condemned.

Here, because of the perp walk, we are condemned in the court of public opinion long before we are in a court of law. The French find it gauche and, quite frankly, so do I.