the death penalty

[Archbio]

Just out of curiosity, do you have a source for this? I hear it brought up often, but, if I recall correctly, no one has ever brought up a specific example.

I'm not sure there are examples. Doesn't the legal process end with execution? No matter. I'm sure I can dig up several examples of people being given long prison sentences for murder and then being proven innocent later on (or the conviction is overturned). It's not a big leap of the mind from there to assume that the conviction process is no more flawless because death is being dished out.

Of course, the quote makes it appear as if the idea of judicial error was far fetched, which I find puzzling.

[Toastburner B]

Originally Posted by Archbio

I'm not sure there are examples. Doesn't the legal process end with execution?

I think it depends, actually. I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a group that got an executed murder's trial redone with DNA evidence...turns out the DNA supported the conviction.

Originally Posted by Archbio

No matter. I'm sure I can dig up several examples of people being given long prison sentences for murder and then being proven innocent later on (or the conviction is overturned). It's not a big leap of the mind from there to assume that the conviction process is no more flawless because death is being dished out.

True.

Originally Posted by Archbio

Of course, the quote makes it appear as if the idea of judicial error was far fetched, which I find puzzling.

Well, while it does happen, I don't think it's a daily occurance, if that's what you mean.

[Archbio]

I haven't found the specific case I was thinking of yet (it was a Canadian case and a long prison sentence). But I found this report:

http://www.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/hop/p2.html

I think it depends, actually. I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a group that got an executed murder's trial redone with DNA evidence...turns out the DNA supported the conviction.

The report mentions the Innocence Project, which apparently reported "143 exonerations based on DNA testing". So basically, this refers to a lot of studies, but I'm not sure how many are available on the internet.

Well, while it does happen, I don't think it's a daily occurance, if that's what you mean.

I'll let the report articulate my thoughts on the subject once again:

The close link between the controversy over the death penalty and the emergence of wrongful convictions in the United States became apparent in the conclusions reached by Bedau and Radelet. They conceded that there was no evidence that ending the death penalty would reduce the likelihood of wrongful convictions. They maintained, however, that “no evidence is needed to support the claim that complete abolition of the death penalty would eliminate the worst of the possible consequences that accrue from wrongful convictions in what are now capital cases.”

[Dasanudas]

Originally Posted by MetalPsycho

Let me just ask you this. What happenes when that man turns out to be foind innoscent later on?

I don't mind the Death Penalty. I mind our judicial system. It's quite flawed. We've put innoscent people to death before, and we'll probably continue to do so.

It is a terrible risk, and one that those in charge should consider heavily since killing an innocent man is certainly going to affect them. I can only agree that the system should be made as flawless as possible. However - given the current situation of the world, I am hard-pressed to find a way to do that. The US has a pretty damn good justice system (I hear in France they don't have Miranda rights - imagine that one).

As for executed people being innocent, you don't have to look too far. Just go back a few years into post-Civil War South.

Lena Baker: executed in Georgia in 1944 - Testified that she killed her employer in self-defense after he imprisoned her and coerced her into sex. She was convincted by an all-white, all male jury. The Georgia Board of Pardons has given her an official pardon - post-humously, of course.