innocence
The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of the American legal system and a right that should not be taken for granted.
Execute the Innocent
"There's always such a rush to judgment. It makes a fair trial hard to get," John Grisham has said. In his one and only true crime book, The Innocent Man, he proved that this was true. In that book, Grisham explores the case that saw Ron Williamson nearly being executed for crimes that he didn't commit. As the hours clocked down, his life literally hung in the balance because someone wanted a conviction, no matter what the cost was.
By Edward Anderson6 years ago in Criminal
What Happens to the Children of Famous Criminals?
In most true crime books, or movies about serial killers, the story ends when the criminal gets sent to prison. For most people, this is true. The perp will no longer be claiming the lives of innocent victims, robbing them, or otherwise harming innocent people. Their reign of terror is done for the most part.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart6 years ago in Criminal
Is a Murderer Always a Murderer?
Why do people kill? Is every murder a result of aggression? Or are some an act of mercy? Just under half of all murders are a result of an argument, a revenge attack, or a loss of temper. Then there are the premeditated cases where people plan for months how to commit the "perfect" crime and then others who act sporadically and simply can’t help but do the inhuman acts that they do. However, is there another category of killer?
By Eliza Brackenridge Jones6 years ago in Criminal
10 Innocent People Who Were Put to Death
One of the biggest arguments against the death penalty is how difficult it can be to prove someone's guilt beyond the shadow of a doubt. Even with modern forensic science, the justice system makes mistakes from time to time, even recently revealing that a man was wrongfully convicted of murder after 30 years in prison. Countless people have been sentenced to death over the course of history, and modern perspective has called into question the guilt of some of these victims. Naturally, the advent of modern DNA tests have allowed investigators to use DNA evidence to accuse or exonerate murder suspects, but even that methodology has shown to not be completely fool-proof. Regardless of your thoughts on capital punishment or your knowledge of other innocent people convicted of horrible crimes, it's heart-wrenching to learn these stories of innocent people who were put to death.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick6 years ago in Criminal
Socrates: Not Guilty
The great Greek philosopher, Socrates, was put to death on counts of impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens. While a sound argument can be made that he was guilty of these crimes, there is another, perhaps more rational, contention that Socrates was in fact innocent. Throughout this essay, “piety” shall be roughly defined as a virtue or excellence of living in fulfillment to both gods and humanity. At trial, Socrates is accused of not believing in the gods of Athens, but throughout The Republic, he defends the reputation of the gods and upholds their myths and teachings. He even goes as far as to advocate for the censorship of poets in order to condition the youth to be just; and, in doing so, is not corrupting the youth at all. His very own philosophy was that he could not teach his students what to think, but rather how to think, which is embodied in the quote famously attributed to himself: “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think” (Socrates).
By Catherine Rose6 years ago in Criminal
Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz
Does anyone really have the right to decide whether someone lives or dies? In any case, absolutely not. Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz was only 15-years-old when he was stabbed and slashed by five men in the Belmont section of the Bronx after being dragged out of a bodega. The men used knives and a machete to viciously stab and slash Junior. While bleeding to death and trying to save himself by running to a hospital, he was filmed rather than helped by onlookers.
By Deanna Bobadilla6 years ago in Criminal
Separating from Signs of Separatism
“So why don’t you wear it?” Mikail Foreman asked. “I don’t think that it is rational,” Ashford Collums said. Collums looked at the nooses, and the guillotines, and large stones, and gigantic swords that swung around the necks of the populace. He remained the only person in the building in Dover, Delaware not donning such hardware.
By Skyler Saunders6 years ago in Criminal
Falsely Accused, Now What?
So you and your partner separate after X amount of years of being together; your emotions will run wild. Think of walking through a legal minefield and you're only scratching if the two of you aren't amicable during this time. Got kids? Here comes the super storm.
By William Diaz6 years ago in Criminal
Harm By Accusation
I see many examples of demands that someone should make amends for “harm done” in the past. Allegations are treated as if they are irrefutable fact. The accused is publicly punished. No trial by peers, no detailed examination of actual evidence. No examination of context or of the social normality prevalent at the time of the alleged “offence.”
By Peter Rose7 years ago in Criminal
Innocent People Convicted of Horrible Crimes. Top Story - September 2017.
"I'm innocent, I swear!" It's a cry that many people behind bars have said, especially during their trials. However, as much as the US legal system is supposed to work on the basis of "innocent until proven guilty," many people who are actually on trial realize that it's more of a "guilty until proven innocent" ordeal.
By Lindsie Polhemus7 years ago in Criminal