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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8nu0tn wrote

Every single person involved in putting an innocent man behind bars for 28 years from the lawyers, to the judges, to the police, all of them need to be jailed for 28 years. Financial compensation is not enough.

They took his entire life away.

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ADarwinAward t1_j8nzr7p wrote

There are never any consequences for those people, and because of that, convictions of innocent people will continue to happen.

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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8o2l65 wrote

In my mind this is one of the worst things that can ever be done to a person. It’s right up there with rape and murder.

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gamerdude69 t1_j8pg3qt wrote

Just think for a moment of some of the implications of this idea.

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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8ph6zh wrote

Implication 1: people will be really damn sure before putting away innocent people behind bars for 28 years

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gamerdude69 t1_j8pi2e5 wrote

Implication 2: nobody would work in criminal justice ever again.

Implication 3: we would pay 10s of millions in taxpayer money putting all these people away for that kind of time, on top of still needing to pay the victim. Instead of putting it to use helping more people in greater ways

Not to mention, a judge doesn't decide guilt. Or a lawyer. Jurors do, and they'd vote innocent every time to avoid the risk. People would murder with impunity.

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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8pic5o wrote

Nah you are using hyperbole. You’re literally saying if actions had consequences the legal system would collapse. Not quite how that works.

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gamerdude69 t1_j8pikdf wrote

If the actions had consequences that extreme, it might collapse. Imagine if you got the death penalty for going over the speed limit. There would be way fewer drivers

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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8pjec8 wrote

Are you actually comparing incarcerating a human being FOR 3 DECADES to going over the speed limit?

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gamerdude69 t1_j8pkcq2 wrote

No, I think you're missing my point. I'm saying if the consequences for a mistake are so severe, people won't even attempt that thing anymore. You're putting prosecuting lawyers (and everyone else you mentioned) in a situation that is too precarious: they risk going to prison for 28 years for messing up their job, but if they get too timid, they let a potentially dangerous criminal to go free and then blood is on their hands.

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Enlightened-Beaver t1_j8pkqli wrote

Putting someone in jail for life is extreme so if you do it you better be 100% sure with zero doubt that you’ve got the right person.

What happens when it’s the death penalty and they execute the wrong guy?

Oopsies? My bad…….

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