Fundamental society standard poll!

[Regs]

 

[Cristatus]

Tough choice. Still haven't picked one though.

 

[Cristatus]

I still haven't picked one, but I dropped in to say: nobody's replied to this thread? And there are 8 votes? (1 for the top, and 7 for the bottom)

 

[Cristatus]

double

 

[clamum]

Convicting an innocent

 

[dullard]

Depends on the criminal.

[*]Consider a mass murderer. And suppose if you release him, he'll kill 10 more people.
[*]Consider a innocent man. Convict him for murder and you'll ruin his life for 10-20 years until he gets out on appeal. That is basically a life gone.

One innocent life or ten innocent lives gone. Your choice. Of course, most people would much rather choose to lose the ten lives and fight to the bitter end for that choice.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: dullard
Depends on the criminal.

Consider a mass murderer. And suppose if you release him, he'll kill 10 more people.

Consider a innocent man. Convict him for murder and you'll ruin his life for 10-20 years until he gets out on appeal. That is basically a life gone.

One innocent life or ten innocent lives gone. Your choice. Of course, most people would soundly choose to lose the ten lives and fight to the bitter end for that choice.

The problem with that scenario is you'll have one or the other -- accidentally convicting an innocent man won't prevent the ten other deaths.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: CadetLee
The problem with that scenario is you'll have one or the other -- accidentally convicting an innocent man won't prevent the ten other deaths.

In one specific case, you are correct (it is an either OR question). But in general, when society chooses to make convictions easy or difficult, you are incorrect (it is an AND question).

If society chooses to make convictions easy, then you will save the 10 people AND lose that one innocent. If society chooses to make convictions hard, they you'll lose the 10 people AND save that one innocent.

 

[Slicedbread]

A guilty man can be cleared of conviction due to lack of evidence, an innocent man is most likely convicted because of failure of the court system.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: CadetLee
The problem with that scenario is you'll have one or the other -- accidentally convicting an innocent man won't prevent the ten other deaths.

In one specific case, you are correct (it is an either OR question). But in general, when society chooses to make convictions easy or difficult, you are incorrect (it is an AND question).

If society chooses to make convictions easy, then you will save the 10 people AND lose that one innocent. If society chooses to make convictions hard, they you'll lose the 10 people AND save that one innocent.

Except not all criminals are mass murderers. And easy convictions which send an innocent man to jail usually mean that the case will be closed (or at least people will stop trying to find the guilty party), which means that they can get away.

So easy convictions can end up losing the innocent person AND the 10 other people.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: jagec
Except not all criminals are mass murderers.

Re-read my first sentence: "Depends on the criminal". Depends on the crime therefore too.

There clearly is something wrong with having convictions too easy. Everyone would be in jail at all times - guilty or not. There also is clearly something wrong with having convictions too difficult to ever convict the guilty. Moderation is the key.