Poll: Is it better to let a criminal go free, or to let an innocent get convicted?

[moretimethansense]

I may not understand the question. I vote that it is better to convict an innocent person than let a criminal go free. However people are innocent until proven guilty. I am not understanding why both of these questions are being asked in the same breath.

Basicly would you rather innocent people get convicted for crimes they didn't commit but catch more actual criminals.
Or actual criminals get away with it to reduce the chance of an innocent being convicted.

 

[crudus]

I may not understand the question. I vote that it is better to convict an innocent person than let a criminal go free. However people are innocent until proven guilty. I am not understanding why both of these questions are being asked in the same breath.

Basicly would you rather innocent people get convicted for crimes they didn't commit but catch more actual criminals.
Or actual criminals get away with it to reduce the chance of an innocent being convicted.

I am just confused since it looks like OP is asking two questions but passing them off as one.

 

[moretimethansense]

I may not understand the question. I vote that it is better to convict an innocent person than let a criminal go free. However people are innocent until proven guilty. I am not understanding why both of these questions are being asked in the same breath.

Basicly would you rather innocent people get convicted for crimes they didn't commit but catch more actual criminals.
Or actual criminals get away with it to reduce the chance of an innocent being convicted.

I am just confused since it looks like OP is asking two questions but passing them off as one.

Ah, I see what you mean now, I didn't notice that, I must be tired normally I'd have been all over that myself.

 

[Gigano]

The most fundamental principle in criminal justice is that anyone is innocent until proven otherwise; Convict an innocent and the system is no better than the criminals which harm innocents. It becomes a threat to those it's set down to protect, and thus fail at most fundamental level.

Better an imperfect justice system than a ruthlessly unjust one.

 

[ace_of_something]

It's amazing how many people here are basing what reasonable doubt it off of TV shows. (Though they seem very unaware of it)

As a police officer and detective; Innocent until proven guilty. If I thought the other way around I'd never get anything done and would always be collaring the first witness I talk to in a case.

The thing is the amount of evidence it takes to even get to a trial is pretty hefty in serious cases anymore.

 

[Kinguendo]

So what a lot of people are saying is that it's better to risk the murderer/rapist go free, then have an innocent man sit in prison? I heartily disagree with that, sorry. I'd rather risk his/her freedom then risk lives.

Would you heartily disagree if it were YOUR freedom? Pretty sure you wouldnt.

And convicting an innocent person of a crime means the actual criminal remains free, so either way a criminal will be free... but in the choice you made there is now an innocent suffering in prison too.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Huh. The Escapist surprises me. I thought you cynical fucks would be all for frying innocents in the name of security.[footnote]Not 100% serious[/footnote]

Besides, as others have said, it's kind of a dumb question. If an innocent is convicted, then a criminal went free anyway.

 

[AngryPuppy]

So what a lot of people are saying is that it's better to risk the murderer/rapist go free, then have an innocent man sit in prison? I heartily disagree with that, sorry. I'd rather risk his/her freedom then risk lives.

Would you heartily disagree if it were YOUR freedom? Pretty sure you wouldnt.

And convicting an innocent person of a crime means the actual criminal remains free, so either way a criminal will be free... but in the choice you made there is now an innocent suffering in prison too.

Well I guess I didn't think about the criminal going free if the innocent went to prison. Lack of foresight on my part.