Which is worse?
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Poll
Question: Which is worse?
#1
Convicting someone who's innocent (D)		  
#2
Acquitting someone who's guilty (D)		  
#3
Convicting someone who's innocent (R)		  
#4
Acquitting someone who's guilty (R)		  
#5
Convicting someone who's innocent (Other)		  
#6
Acquitting someone who's guilty (Other)		  
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Total Voters: 35

Author Topic: Which is worse?  (Read 4005 times)
© tweed
Miamiu1027
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« on: August 10, 2005, 08:07:53 PM »
Interesting to see the party splits on this.
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Ebowed
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« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2005, 08:14:23 PM »
Convicting someone who's innocent (D)
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dazzleman
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« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2005, 08:17:50 PM »
Convicting somebody who's innocent (R)
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Gabu
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« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2005, 08:18:42 PM »
Convicting someone who's innocent.
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Hitchabrut
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« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2005, 08:45:07 PM »
Acquitting someone who is guilty. Both are direly unfortunate.
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Giant Saguaro
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« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2005, 09:14:23 PM »
R - Because of the appeals system giving convicted people second chances, I say a guilty person being acquitted is worse.
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Cashcow
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« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2005, 09:27:54 PM »
Convicting someone who's innocent, especially if the death penalty is applied. Rare, but unforgivable.
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Virginian87
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« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2005, 09:29:50 PM »
Tough choice.  I would say both, but since I have to choose a side I voted option 2.  The OJ Simpson trial left a really bad taste in my mouth over that one.
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MHS2002
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« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2005, 09:31:52 PM »
Convicting someone who is innocent (R)

In this regard, you have not only convicted the wrong person, but the real culprit is out on the streets scot free.
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Virginian87
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« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2005, 10:37:40 PM »
But that the other option is just as bad.  At least in option 1 the culprit could still be caught.  In option 2, he is found innocent and can never be tried for that crime again.
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Emsworth
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« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2005, 10:44:37 PM »
"It is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer." (Sir William Blackstone)

Convicting an innocent person is, in my opinion, far worse.
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A18
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« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2005, 10:46:53 PM »
Of what kind of crime?
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Speed of Sound
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« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2005, 10:50:31 PM »
convicting someone whos innocent (other)
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nclib
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« Reply #13 on: August 10, 2005, 11:19:58 PM »
Convicting someone who's innocent (D)
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Platypus
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« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2005, 01:40:14 AM »
damn, Emsworth beat me to the Blackstone quote. My sentiments are the same.
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© tweed
Miamiu1027
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« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2005, 11:38:51 AM »

it shouldn't make too much of a difference when answering this question.
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John Dibble
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« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2005, 12:27:00 PM »

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. It is a difficult thing to determine, but I think what the crime and punishment is needs to be taken into account.

Quote from: Emsworth on August 10, 2005, 10:44:37 PM
"It is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer." (Sir William Blackstone)

Convicting an innocent person is, in my opinion, far worse.

One thing to consider though: You aquit someone who is guilty of rape and murder, and he goes out and does it to two other women. The innocent can still suffer if the guilty are released, which is why it is important to take the crime into consideration.
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Emsworth
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« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2005, 12:30:17 PM »
Quote from: SE Magistrate John Dibble on August 11, 2005, 12:27:00 PM
One thing to consider though: You aquit someone who is guilty of rape and murder, and he goes out and does it to two other women. The innocent can still suffer if the guilty are released, which is why it is important to take the crime into consideration.
The context in which Blackstone made that quotation was acquittal and conviction, rather than suffering in general.

Although you make a good point, I feel that it is far worse to convict an innocent than acquit a criminal. In fact, acquitting a criminal may in some cases be necessary, as when evidence is deemed inadmissible, etc.
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John Dibble
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« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2005, 12:32:48 PM »
Quote from: Emsworth on August 11, 2005, 12:30:17 PM
Quote from: SE Magistrate John Dibble on August 11, 2005, 12:27:00 PM
One thing to consider though: You aquit someone who is guilty of rape and murder, and he goes out and does it to two other women. The innocent can still suffer if the guilty are released, which is why it is important to take the crime into consideration.
The context in which Blackstone made that quotation was acquittal and conviction, rather than suffering in general.

Although you make a good point, I feel that it is far worse to convict an innocent than acquit a criminal. In fact, acquitting a criminal may in some cases be necessary, as when evidence is deemed inadmissible, etc.

Well, I'm just saying I can't give a black and white answer to this - it's situational. If someone gets out and kills 50 people, well, that clearly seems worse to me than one guy going to jail. But if a guilty person gets out and does nothing, then clearly the innocent guy getting convicted is worse.
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Emsworth
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« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2005, 12:35:34 PM »
Quote from: SE Magistrate John Dibble on August 11, 2005, 12:32:48 PM
Well, I'm just saying I can't give a black and white answer to this - it's situational. If someone gets out and kills 50 people, well, that clearly seems worse to me than one guy going to jail. But if a guilty person gets out and does nothing, then clearly the innocent guy getting convicted is worse.
Ah, but if an innocent person is convicted, then the guilty person is still on the streets, and could kill 50 people as you suggest.

Thus, in general, the conviction of an innocent comprehends and includes a failure to find the guilty, and is accordingly worse.
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John Dibble
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« Reply #20 on: August 11, 2005, 12:40:28 PM »
Quote from: Emsworth on August 11, 2005, 12:35:34 PM
Quote from: SE Magistrate John Dibble on August 11, 2005, 12:32:48 PM
Well, I'm just saying I can't give a black and white answer to this - it's situational. If someone gets out and kills 50 people, well, that clearly seems worse to me than one guy going to jail. But if a guilty person gets out and does nothing, then clearly the innocent guy getting convicted is worse.
Ah, but if an innocent person is convicted, then the guilty person is still on the streets, and could kill 50 people as you suggest.

Thus, in general, the conviction of an innocent comprehends and includes a failure to find the guilty, and is accordingly worse.

Well, true enough, but I still can't say it's black and white. I view this as a situational dillema.
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AkSaber
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« Reply #21 on: August 11, 2005, 03:40:50 PM »
Quote from: dazzleman on August 10, 2005, 08:17:50 PM
Convicting somebody who's innocent (R)
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J. J.
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« Reply #22 on: August 11, 2005, 03:46:33 PM »
Convicting someone who is innocent (R).
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