I appreciate that. And I understand corruption exists. I've been rereading my earlier posts. I said that I hadn't seen any cases of absolute corruption. I'm not sure what was going through my head when I wrote that cause it's probably not true. Depending a bit on your definition of corruption. I have seen cases where the evidence the convicted person was innocent was overwhelming and those involved conspired to keep the person incarcerated rather than admit the mistake. Which I would certainly call corrupt.
Thing is I used to support the death penalty. I still do believe some peoples crimes are so bad that they deserve to be out to death for it. But over time I've seen too many close calls and near misses and, as you pointed out, cases where we don't know for sure but it's entirely plausible. So some time ago I changed my mind and decided that at the very least I can't support capital punishment while the system is the way it is.
To support it now, at the very least I would want a new burden or proof. Currently the highest is proof beyond reasonable doubt. Which requires that a reasonable person wouldn't doubt that it is the truth.
If nothing else I'd want an additional higher standard of proof before the death penalty could be used. Perhaps something like like proof beyond conceivable doubt. Where no reasonable person could conceive of a way the defendant could be innocent.
Today with forensics and DNA such a standard is probably possible. But for now I don't accept that out standards are sufficient to be able to justify capital punishment. The stakes are too high and the standards too low. I'm not entirely happy about such standards being used for life in prison either but at least there is the possibility for that to be discovered and some kind of compensation offered where a mistake has been made.
It's still not good enough, not really. But it's a lot better than after they're dead
One of the reasons I'm interested if we have ever definitely without any doubt put an innocent person to death is because I kinda feel like the day that happens will be a day when one little additional piece of the countries innocence will die with it.
I know that's a strange thing to say what with all the horrible mistakes we've already made, but at least for now there's perhaps at least a slim chance that executing an innocent person isn't one of them. There are other countries that have. As I recall the UK is one.
Unfortunately it'll probably be that day that the death penalty dies with it. Hence why I said probablys don't cause change, only definitelys.
.
Its always the fucking way. We never take action until it's too late. Positive change is always born from someone's death. We never do what we clearly should have done before it's too late.