No crime, no matter how heinous is above a critical view of the facts and a presumption of innocence

[Taverner]

Just sayin'

Your thoughts?


------------------------------------

And no this is not in reference to any case going on now - or rather its in reference to ALL of them

[chaplainM]

1. The more horrible the crime...

...the more important it is to get the actual perpetrator.

I never understood why authorities would try to obtain false confessions. Do they really want the guilty party to go free?

[Caliman73]

5. Political expedience

That is why...and it is a stupid reason. When there is a crime, the public wants the perpetrator caught, there is outcry, politicians want to keep their positions so they pressure the police to catch somebody, anybody. The pressure can cause police to overlook some suspects and focus on one particular one. I don't think that they want the guilty to go free, they just want the public and the politicians of their back.

[tk2kewl]

2. It always pisses me off...

that new media of every kind ignores the presumption of innocence. I remember when journalists always prefaced their description of crime suspects and criminal defendants with "alleged" or some similar description of the presumption of innocence until there was a conviction.

[FreeState]

3. Yes if your a judge or jury - not necessarily true if your forming your own opinion n/t

[madmusic]

4. And it's more fun to call for a death sentence without the facts.

That's what it really amounts to.

[FreeState]

6. Not from me - I dont believe in the death penalty under any circumstance n/t

[madmusic]

9. Point taken. Thanks for the clarification. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

7. Completely agree.

Every time something involving rape or children (or both) appears on DU, the mob comes out to declare their complete disregard for this principle.

Scary.

[mopinko]

8. +1 but

completely contrary to human nature.
i don't see it as all bad, tho. it is a good thing that we carry a desire for justice that is innate. but it needs to be overlaid with reason. that is where justice differs from vengence.

[cali]

10. Absolutely, In a court of law that concept is critical. Outside of it?

Not so much.

[blogslut]

11. I sort of wish US newspapers were forbidden to report on crimes

...until after a verdict has come down from a jury.

I know. Many flaws in that wish but I'm not a fan of the way our sensationalist media reports on crimes.