Two new books by criminal attorney Willard Bakeman present a direct challenge to foundational assumptions within the United States justice system regarding mental health, public safety, and capital punishment. Drawing on more than five decades of experience across the criminal justice system, Bakeman examines controversial questions surrounding mental illness, legal responsibility, and the death penalty from a unique professional perspective.
The first book, "Law, Liberty, and Mental Health: A Call for a New Legal System," addresses the critical intersection of violent crime, untreated mental illness, and substance abuse. Bakeman argues that modern legal priorities have increasingly placed individual liberty above public safety, even in situations where individuals pose a known danger. Through historical analysis and case studies, the book explores how deinstitutionalization and the decline of mental health care have left many individuals homeless, incarcerated, or untreated, creating systemic risks.
Bakeman draws a pointed comparison to societal responses during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that sweeping public health restrictions were widely accepted to prevent harm, while legal systems remain reluctant to intervene in cases where untreated mental illness creates predictable risks to public safety. This analysis suggests a potential misalignment in how society prioritizes different types of collective risk, with significant implications for policymakers and legal professionals tasked with reforming public safety frameworks.
His second book, "The Death Penalty Revisited," examines the longstanding debate surrounding capital punishment from the rare perspective of a legal professional who has served both as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. The book explores the strongest arguments on both sides of the issue without advocating a specific position, instead encouraging readers to engage in thoughtful reflection about whether the death penalty truly fulfills the societal goals often claimed for it, such as deterrence and justice.
For business and technology leaders, these works highlight systemic inefficiencies and philosophical contradictions within a major public institution. The discussion on mental health and public safety intersects with corporate concerns about workplace safety, community relations, and the social determinants that can impact economic stability. The critique of the death penalty touches on broader themes of ethical governance, the measurement of justice outcomes, and the role of evidence in policy-making—all relevant to leaders managing complex organizations.
Both titles are available now on Amazon. Bakeman's analysis, rooted in extensive homicide litigation experience, pushes for a recalibration of how legal systems balance liberty, justice, and the protection of society, suggesting that current approaches may inadequately address modern challenges of violence and mental health.
