In some nations, legal proceedings involving criminal cases are publicly broadcasted on televisions for people to witness. This practice has raised debates regarding whether its merits outweigh the disadvantages. I, however, believe this policy can do more harm than good.
On the one hand, advocates for televising criminal trials often emphasize the immense significance of transparency and accountability in the justice system. In this case, the state would allow individuals to supervise court proceedings, enhancing their trust in legal process and reducing the chances of misconducts by judges, lawyers, or any involved parties. A case in point can be seen in Van Thinh Phat chairwoman Truong My Lan’s 12$B fraud trial, such a high-profile case being televised the proceedings can educate the public about the complex legal, raising their confidence in the authority. In addition to this, there is also an argument that publicly airing criminal trials may serve as a deterrent to potential criminals, given that seeing the consequences of illegal actions can discourage others from engaging in similar illegal acts.
On the other hand, I am convinced that the aforementioned benefits pale in significance when compared to the glaring drawbacks openly airing trial courts. One major problem is that proponents of this scheme often fail to factor in its concomitant adverse impact on involved individuals in the trial. Specifically, displaying detail images of a trial’s offenders might violate the privacy rights of individuals involved in the case, including victims, witnesses, and defendants. Televising sensitive or traumatic events can cause further distress to those involved and may deter victims and witnesses from coming forward. This can be exemplified in the case of Le Van Luyen, a well-known killer in Viet Nam, since he is under arrest for murdering a whole family, his parents and an intellectual disabled sister have been discriminated and estranged by none other than their neighbors. This is compounded by the fact that the public and media pressure might effect the jury members, leading to bias or prejudiced decision. The main reason of this argument is that jurors might be swayed by the public whose understanding of the legal system is lack and unfulfilling.
In conclusion, regardless of the benefits of an open televised trial, I would contend that the disadvantages are far more pronounced.