The Police, the CPS, the Judge, the Jury or some corrupt defence lawyers who criminally turn blind eye to key evidence? Someone should be consequently held responsible when an innocent person is wrongly convicted for a crime he did not commit.
2007-01-12 10:29:12 · 17 answers · asked by bluebell 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
If someone went to prison because evidence was hidden, or lawyers and police were corrupt, then clearly them. That would happen now anyway, they could be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice.
What you're saying is that if an innocent person goes to prison then it's SOMEONE'S fault. That's not always true, it's the fault of the system - no one person designed that. Ultimately you either have a system where most guilty and some innocent get put away, or few guilty and no innocent get put away.
The fact that you can't always say whose fault it is shows how you've asked a question that's impossible to answer.
2007-01-12 10:38:43 · answer #1 · answered by Joe 5 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I think police have largest responsibility. They are usually under the most pressure to solve a crime, so may take shortcuts or make assumptions. They are the ones that first list someone as a suspect, and they are the ones that will get charges pressed, etc.
The second responsibility is anyone who makes a false identification -- if you're not sure then don't say you're sure someone did something. I think most wrongful convictions hinge on a positive ID by a witness.
2007-01-12 10:39:33 · answer #2 · answered by Julian A 4 · 8⤊ 2⤋
It depends totally on the situation. It could be that everything hinged on the police investigation, or everything could have been fine except for the defence lawyers. Unfortunately our criminal justice system is based on finding enough evidence to 'prove' that someone is guilty rather than actually discovering the truth.
2007-01-12 23:13:31 · answer #3 · answered by Phil 4 · 8⤊ 2⤋
It's a difficult question as each case has to be judged on it's own merits. You can't use a sweeping statement 'who should be blamed' without taking all the different factors of each individual case into account. It's a question that cannot really be answered in the way you've asked, it's too vague.
2007-01-12 11:12:00 · answer #4 · answered by Roaming free 5 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Unfortunately there is a lot of curruption in our justice system where it seems like no justice was served. There really noting anyone can do but keep fighting to prove ones innocents. If lucky have Internal Affairs step in but than the whole "justice league" might be after you.
2007-01-12 11:59:45 · answer #5 · answered by Desiree S 1 · 6⤊ 4⤋
Everyone in the chain of arrest, prosecution, and judgment should be held accountable for their own individual negligence. That is the number one problem with our criminal justice system today. There is a movement afoot to change this (google J.A.I.L.)
And FIJI. It takes citizen participation, which takes knowledge of a movement, which of course our status quoist media refuses to participate in. Stuff you will STILL never see on the 5 o'clock news...
2007-01-12 10:47:19 · answer #6 · answered by Gunny T 6 · 6⤊ 4⤋
I agree that someone should be held responsible for such a travesty in justice. But it would be hard to hold any one individual or group of persons liable.
Society as a whole should be held accountable, we are the ones that elect government and law officials.
2007-01-12 21:11:10 · answer #7 · answered by Rodney C 3 · 6⤊ 4⤋
Responsible for what? If you want to eliminate the risk of an innocent person going to prison we'll just have to stop enforcing all the laws. Rule of the jungle.
2007-01-12 10:43:50 · answer #8 · answered by Yak Rider 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋
All of the above. They cannot do their jobs unless the person before them does there's. Although you can just blame out justice dept.
2007-01-12 10:33:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 3⤋
Everyone involved in send him to jail should face penalties
depending on their contribution...
The Prosecutor should probably face the greatest penalty.
2007-01-12 10:31:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋