Which bothers you more?

[colcifer]

Anytime an innocent man is convicted, a guilty man is free. Unless they're convicted of another crime.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Anytime an innocent man is convicted, a guilty man is free. Unless they're convicted of another crime.

No, the guilty person is still innocent of that particular crime. It happens more than most of us realize when a prisoner is found innocent, and the real culprit was already in jail for another crime. The fact that the crook was already put away does not make the innocent person any less falsely convicted and incarcerated.

[Ziltoid]

Innocent person convicted without a doubt.

[MJ5150]

The guilty walking free bothers me more.

-Mike

[Rocker949]

Blackstone's Formulation--

"Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer."

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The guilty walking free bothers me more.

-Mike

You would go against the grain

[TOOL460002]

Conviction is about reasonable doubt. I would rather not convict someone guilty if there is a chance I'm wrong. Convicting someone without a doubt who is innocent is bad for the justuce system.

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

No, the guilty person is still innocent of that particular crime. It happens more than most of us realize when a prisoner is found innocent, and the real culprit was already in jail for another crime. The fact that the crook was already put away does not make the innocent person any less falsely convicted and incarcerated.

I was referring to factual innocence and guilt. I have no idea what that last sentence has to do with my post.

But I posted without reading the whole thread; who am I to judge?

[machine gewehr]

Innocent person in jail. For the other case, there's always vigilante justice in extreme cases.

Cut loose a serial killer by mistake and see how long it takes. But this time, a relative of a murdered person will go into jail, like an innocent person in jail, but won't be completely innocent. Hmmm...It's a messy situation.

[Derek Balonek]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The guilty walking free bothers me more.

-Mike

Why is that? I'm not trying to devalue your belief any; I'm honestly curious why.

For the record, I would rather see the guilty walk. There will be more chances to catch them; for the wrongfully convicted there are no second chances.

[totallyfrozen]

Because what this thread really needs is a pole...uh, poll.

[bassguppy]

Any opinions on whether the wrongfully convicted should get compensation or assistance reintegrating back to the "society" that put them in prison in the first place?

IMO, yes. Our society uses a jury or judge to determine guilt or innocence. They are our representative and as such we should take responsibility for their decisions.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by bassguppy

Any opinions on whether the wrongfully convicted should get compensation or assistance reintegrating back to the "society" that put them in prison in the first place?

IMO, yes. Our society uses a jury or judge to determine guilt or innocence. They are our representative and as such we should take responsibility for their decisions.

I think compensation is only fair since anyone set free has lost years of wages and possible career advancement. Obviously time and personal losses cannot really be compensated, but a pile money will take some sting away.

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I think compensation is only fair since anyone set free has lost years of wages and possible career advancement. Obviously time and personal losses cannot really be compensated, but a pile money will take some sting away.

+1: In some cases there should also be investigations as to possible prosecutorial & judicial misconduct, IMO.

[6jase5]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

A guilty party unpunished = one unjust act.
An innocent person punished = two unjust acts.

That's what I was thinking. I remember reading an article years ago about a former prosecutor that helped convict what turned out to be an innocent man. Although he was only doing his job and doing it apparently well with the evidence stacked up against the non guilty party, the prosecutor committed suicide, unable to live with the fact that he put a guy away for 15 years. A lose lose situation.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by 6jase5

That's what I was thinking. I remember reading an article years ago about a former prosecutor that helped convict what turned out to be an innocent man. Although he was only doing his job and doing it apparently well with the evidence stacked up against the non guilty party, the prosecutor committed suicide, unable to live with the fact that he put a guy away for 15 years. A lose lose situation.

Lawyering has got to be pretty tough on both sides, especially in regards to criminal cases.
Id hate to be the guy to wrongfully convict an innocent man just as much as Id hate to defend the man I know to be guilty.

I watched Primal Fear last weekend, and I now believe that whenever a lawyer is not in the courtroom they are drinking heavily.

[jerry]

Innocent person wrongly convicted, also why I'm not for the death penalty, too many people unable to afford a decent lawyer were executed.

[MatticusMania]

One way or the other, I think its safe to say that are all bothered by injustice!

[SoonerMatt]

An innocent person being convicted is worse, IMO.

[jp58]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

A guilty party unpunished = one unjust act.

An innocent person punished = two unjust acts.

Couldn't have worded it any better myself.