European Tribune - Comments - DO Mess with Texas!

DO Mess with Texas! | 224 comments (224 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 2)

I agree with your valid point. What about putting innocent people in prison for life? Afterall, the vast majority of those convicted of homicide do end up with long prison sentences vs. being executed. Can we ever be sure, regardless of the sentence? Is the US system of justice so flawed that we need to start over? Is trial by jury a bad idea or is it only when the death penalty is an option?

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 04:30:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 4)

But at the very least there's the prospect that you might be freed (however small a probability that may be). If you're dead, you're dead.
And the only way to be a 100% certain that innocent people aren't put to death is by not having a death penalty at all.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 04:34:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (none / 0)

As I said, it goes on and on and the arguments have been well rehearsed and documented.

THE RISK OF EXECUTING THE INNOCENT

I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell. _ Blood Sweat & Tears

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 04:55:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 2)

The arguments for white racial superiority, male superiority, burning witches and treating gays with electroshock therapy were also well rehearsed. Doesn't mean that one side aren't dead wrong.

In this case it would be the one calling for the retention and use of the death penalty.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 05:15:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 2)

If you've put a person in prison and later find out you can do something about it, pay some form of reparation to the individual involved. Trial by Jury appears a better option than all of the others that I can think of.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 04:35:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 2)

Actually, there is no real "prison for life" in many European countries. The penalty will be called that way, but e.g. in France, it is pretty much a given that nobody gets more than 30 years minimum term, and can be freed after that...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 at 06:18:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hasn't this been discussed before? (4.00 / 2)

Can we ever be sure, regardless of the sentence?

Of course not.

Is trial by jury a bad idea or is it only when the death penalty is an option?

It seems to be the least bad idea. Sort of like democracy: it's still fallible.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Aug 24th, 2007 at 02:38:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Juries (4.00 / 3)

I don't know. We don't have any juries in Finland, and from my limited experience it seems to work rather well. I couldn't say which judicial system works best, though.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Fri Aug 24th, 2007 at 06:16:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

DO Mess with Texas! | 224 comments (224 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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