# U.S. Justice **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 20, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519 "2000-02-20T03:13:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/1 "2000-02-20T03:13:00Z")
## As more and more are being released from prison after being wrongly convicted and more and more, like OJ, are wrongly exon- erated, the U.S. system appears not to be working. A friend who was a Clerk of Courts for 25 years, is convinced that the system dosen’t work. Too many giilty walking. Too many inocent incarcerated or worse, executed! Are there other systems of just- ice that works better than the U.S system? Zymurgist ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/2 "2000-02-20T03:30:00Z")
I feel a trip to GD coming on. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/3 "2000-02-20T16:18:00Z")
Actually, I doubt that the total number of incorrect results is increasing. As laws become more prosecution friendly, the number of incorrect convictions probably increases, but there would be a corresponding number of cases that would have been incorrect acquittals that end up being correct convictions. The opposite is true when the law gets more defense oriented. What **is** true is that we are more AWARE of ‘incorrect’ results because of media reports, just as we are more aware of rapes, more aware of plane crashes, more aware of anything that the media in general makes money off of reporting. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/4 "2000-02-20T19:38:00Z")
Our jury system appears to be more of a contest between (or, among) attorneys than a search for justice. Too often defendants, able to afford the most competent lawers walk, while thoes who have less able attys. are convicted wrongly. One person, wrongly convicted, is too many even if it should statistically even out! I’m interested to see if systems have better track records. I’m sure that no system is 100%, but it should be the goal. And, Beatle, this will probably never get to GD. My post about our penal systen got little responce, mmostly because we all know it’s broken, but no one knows how to repair it. Carl ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/5 "2000-02-20T19:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by beatle: > **I feel a trip to GD coming on.** Dingdingdingding! That’s right. Bob, tell him what he’s won! **beatle** , you have won an all expense paid trip to Great Debates. That’s right, you and a guest will fly on Threadmove Airways to beautiful Great Debates. For four thoughtful days and five exciting nights, you will be treated to discussions of Libertarianism, Star Wars v. Star Trek, the nature of God and dozens of other exciting topics. Your hosts **David B** and **Gaudere** will ensure that your stay is free of personal flames and mundanity. Congratulations, from your friends at General Questions! ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/6 "2000-02-20T20:03:00Z")
Beatle:Congrats on your winning the trip here on my post! And thanks for bringing me along! Carl ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/7 "2000-02-20T23:27:00Z")
Carl, somebody once said it about our government, and I think it applies here as well: Our system is the worst, except for all the others. Seriously, I do think the attitude of “I must win” for lawyers pervades the system too much. But I have very little idea how to fix it… ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-justice/17519/8 "2000-02-20T23:29:00Z")
I posted a little too quickly there. There is actually a way to help fix it – get some ethics watchdogs with teeth. The _Chicago Tribune_, in their study on the faultiness of the death penalty in Illinois, found a number of cases of prosecutors who had been sanctioned for withholding evidence or other naughtiness. Know where a bunch of them ended up? In _higher_ positions! Several were judges! That’s how unethical behavior is dealt with? By rewarding them? That’s ridiculous.