Re:I spent 22 years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit
by adrianmonk on Thursday December 05, 2019 @10:37AM
(#21713185)
I respectfully disagree that this is specific to the US. I think it has been an issue everywhere throughout history.
Don't get me wrong. It's a great thing when a country overcomes it and manages to create a fair, even-handed justice system.
But human nature is to want to see something done about it when crimes happen. That's why before formal justice systems existed (and still today in certain undeveloped areas), a mob would form and just take out -- as in kill -- the suspect on the spot. Without really being sure that they were guilty.
The idea of deferring punishment, recognizing and protecting the rights of the accused, and conducting a fair, orderly trial is a wonderful thing, but it's not the default. It's really more like an achievement in human evolution.
Don't get me wrong. It's a great thing when a country overcomes it and manages to create a fair, even-handed justice system.
But human nature is to want to see something done about it when crimes happen. That's why before formal justice systems existed (and still today in certain undeveloped areas), a mob would form and just take out -- as in kill -- the suspect on the spot. Without really being sure that they were guilty.
The idea of deferring punishment, recognizing and protecting the rights of the accused, and conducting a fair, orderly trial is a wonderful thing, but it's not the default. It's really more like an achievement in human evolution.