Crime Analysis
Manika Dhami
Dennis
English 101
13 March 2012
Irreversible Innocence
Are we really innocent until proven guilty? Well statistics show that fifteen percent of U.S. inmates on death row are falsely accused and another ten percent are wrongfully put to death. Mistakenly due to the following factors: inadequate evidence, mistaken eyewitness identification, false confessions, incompetent defense lawyers, poor forensics science and law enforcement misconduct. So why is a justice system that is supposed to protect us putting us to death? The real answer is elusive. It just does not make sense to kill someone then investigate. Recently it has been happening that way. Only to find out after they put the inmate to death, they re-examine DNA and the other factors such as witnesses who come clean about misidentification. Then the government concludes that this already deceased person’s life is already taken, and there is no turning back. Post-conviction DNA testing should be addressed thoroughly before they decide to put someone to death on death row. In today’s society, there seems to be a rush for results. Many argue that the rush for a death sentence is to bring closure to the victim’s family, and that it closes a horrible chapter in the lives of these family members. However, most people do not realize carrying out the death penalty costs two to five times more than keeping the same inmate in prison for the rest of their life or until the correct set of evidence is looked at and examined.” Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends”.(J.R.R. Tolkien) How can this be? It has to process out. It is not unusual to have a prisoner on death row 15-20 years. Judges, attorneys, court reporters, clerks, and court facilities all require a substantial investment by the taxpayer. Do we really have the resources to waste? Do we really want to
Dennis
English 101
13 March 2012
Irreversible Innocence
Are we really innocent until proven guilty? Well statistics show that fifteen percent of U.S. inmates on death row are falsely accused and another ten percent are wrongfully put to death. Mistakenly due to the following factors: inadequate evidence, mistaken eyewitness identification, false confessions, incompetent defense lawyers, poor forensics science and law enforcement misconduct. So why is a justice system that is supposed to protect us putting us to death? The real answer is elusive. It just does not make sense to kill someone then investigate. Recently it has been happening that way. Only to find out after they put the inmate to death, they re-examine DNA and the other factors such as witnesses who come clean about misidentification. Then the government concludes that this already deceased person’s life is already taken, and there is no turning back. Post-conviction DNA testing should be addressed thoroughly before they decide to put someone to death on death row. In today’s society, there seems to be a rush for results. Many argue that the rush for a death sentence is to bring closure to the victim’s family, and that it closes a horrible chapter in the lives of these family members. However, most people do not realize carrying out the death penalty costs two to five times more than keeping the same inmate in prison for the rest of their life or until the correct set of evidence is looked at and examined.” Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends”.(J.R.R. Tolkien) How can this be? It has to process out. It is not unusual to have a prisoner on death row 15-20 years. Judges, attorneys, court reporters, clerks, and court facilities all require a substantial investment by the taxpayer. Do we really have the resources to waste? Do we really want to
Cited: "The Arguments." BalancedPolitics.org - Free Balanced, Non-Partisan Discussion of Political & Social Issues for Debate (Pros and Cons - Decision Making Politics). Web. 1 Aug. 2011. <http://balancedpolitics.org>. "Dp Info Center." Death Penalty Information Center. 2005. Web. July-Aug. <http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org>. "The Idea of People on Death Row Are Innocent." Web log post. Opposing Views | Issues, Experts, Answers. Web. 17 Aug. 2011. <http://opposingviews.com>. "Innocence Blog." The Innocence Project - Home. Web. 17 Aug. 2011. <http://www.innocenceproject.org>. "Wrongful Death Penalty." NY Times Advertisement. 4 July 1997. Web. 07 Aug. 2011. <http://nytimes.com>.