How far back in history would one have to go to remember that the first documented criminal trial occurred? Would it be similar or different to those held today? What would it be about? Would the punishment be similar to those being handed out today? This article by William R. Riddell gives the public an inside look at what happened in history on that fateful day. This particular crime was recorded, but it was not until the first century of our era that it was shown to our world. Since the documentation is found in an ancient document, Riddell wants to bring out the fact that he is not writing this article as a history but as an analysis of history as an advocate for the public. Any guesses as to what this first crime might be? It was all based on a lie. A simple white lie that couldn't have done any harm. The Bible was written in Hebrew thousands of years ago. The first crime was reported in the “first book” of the Bible, Genesis. After creating the heavens and the earth, God created man. God told the first man, Adam, not to eat the fruit of the tree in the center of the Garden of Eden (which was Adam's home at the time). “Eat food from every tree in the park, but eat not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but in whatever day you eat from it you will die a death.” (Riddell, 1916) God soon gave Adam a companion to live with him in the garden. Adam told Eve, the woman, not to eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. Riddell thinks he paraphrased exactly what God told him when he told Eve the rule. Therefore, Eve only knew the law and not the consequences of what would happen if that law was broken. One day, the snake forced her to take a fruit from the forbidden...... middle of paper ...... it is necessary to focus on the right kind of punishment to inflict on individuals, instead of “diagnosing the wrong treatment” to their “patients”. This metaphor is used once again to point out that judges and doctors are similar because they misdiagnose a patient and society has to deal with the repercussions of what that patient (or criminal) would bring back to society. In most cases, prisoners are released due to lack of funds to keep them locked up for their entire sentences, because jails and prisons are becoming too overcrowded. Judges are punishing the wrong people more harshly than those who actually deserve to be there and are letting the wrong people out too early, just so they can “save money and reduce prison overcrowding.” According to this article, the criminal justice system needs to reevaluate its priorities when dealing with patients.