Innocent... With Punishment
The justice system offers juries only two possibilities: innocent (you go free) and guilty (you go to jail). These are matters of the gravest importance to society, and there’s only two options? It’s a coin flip!
That’s why I think there should be a third option: “Innocent (With Punishment)”. This is when the jury members all agree that the defendant is innocent of all charges against him, yet they believe he still deserves to be punished anyway. Their thinking could be that anyone who is on trial must be guilty of something. Or that he was obnoxiously smug on the stand and they really wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. Whatever the reasoning, the jury recognizes that he’s innocent, but just can’t bear to let him off without some kind of whipping or torture before he goes.
Human rights advocates may protest, but this would undoubtedly lead to fewer guilty convictions, most of which stem from superficial reasons: juries don’t like the cut of the defendant’s jib. Give them Innocent With Punishment, and everyone is happy.
1 year ago