Disturbingly frequently, legal systems manage to convict individuals of crimes they did not, in fact, commit.

Often, these individuals are imprisoned, sometimes for long periods; on their release, the State pays them financial compensation.

This money comes from the pockets of the long- suffering taxpayers. It would be far more appropriate to take it from those responsible.

In this scheme, when a wrongful conviction is identifies, all those employed in the criminal justice system who worked on the case are subject to a levy to fund the compensation. From the arresting officer to the judge, each pays an apportioned amount depending on the significance of their role. The payment would be deducted from salaries in the case of existing or former staff, or from pensions for retired staff.

The amounts would be small, and spread over many years, but it would be a constant niggling reminder to the employee when viewing thier monthly payslip, and encourage them to think "Have we really got the right person ?"

Jurors, being unpaid, and merely making a judgement on the evidence presented, would of course be unaffected, as would the defence.
-- 8th of 7, May 02 2012

"Charles Dahmer, you are a free man!"

"But Your Honour, he confessed!"

"Order, order. One can never be too sure, and I am not condemning this man until the jury have signed for joint and several liability!"
-- 4whom, May 02 2012


Aren't you thinking of Kirby Groomkirby there ?
-- 8th of 7, May 02 2012


Money could also be donated from the slush funds garnered from siezed cash and assets. I know that many cash- strapped PDs put these 'unofficial' funds to good use, but other agencies, the DEA in particular, are swimming in liquid assets.
-- Alterother, May 02 2012


They should go talk to the Secret Service, who seem to have some efficient if unoriginal ideas about how to spend their employer's money …
-- 8th of 7, May 02 2012


They certainly know how to cut a hard bargain... or perhaps not, given the other party's reaction to their revised offer.
-- Alterother, May 02 2012



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