But what if the procedure fails? If the system is flawed and unjust verdict will be created. We can see this in Plato’s The Apology. Socrates stands trail for blasphemy and corruption of the youth. In that case, we can see the lack of representation for Socrates, as well as the bias of the jury. Socrates pointed this out by stating, “But I had not the boldness or impudence or inclination to address you as you would have liked me to address you, weeping and lamenting, and saying and doing many things which you have been accustomed to hear from others […] I would rather die having spoken after my manner, than speak in your manner and live”. (Plato) The jury believed he was guilty and only wanted to see him beg for his life, rather than care for …show more content…
Conflicting convictions of murder have put an unknown number of innocent individuals to death. In homicides where there is more than one assailant, but only one gun used for the murder of an individual, prosecutions have been known to put the gun in the hand of the defendant in their own individual case. So there is a clear contradiction between cases, only one person could have actually pulled the trigger. Individuals can be charged for murder as an accomplice, but it is easier to ask for the death penalty if they fired the weapon. The Author of Conflicting Convictions, Ken Armstrong states, “At least twenty-nine men have been condemned in cases in which defense attorneys accused prosecutors of presenting contradictory theories. To date, seven of those twenty-nine have been executed”. (Armstrong) In this instance, the United States justice system may have put men who are innocent of actually committing the murder to death. In this case, the government has actually failed to protect the lives of …show more content…
In order to implement justice, there must be punishment. The role of punishment is a debt to be paid by a lawbreaker. As members of society, citizens are aware of the law and of the fact that they are subject to it. For being a member of a society entails that you are subject to the law. In Plato’s Crito, he develops this point when Socrates states “But he who has experience of the manner in which we order justice and administer the State, and still remains, has entered into an implied contract that he will do as we command him”. An individual is born into a society and the state provides for their development. An individual can always leave that state once they no longer depend on it. However, if they choose to remain in that state, they accept the state’s rules. So if someone accepts the state as legitimate, they accept the authority of a government and its law. This validates the state to enforce punishment, because of the individual’s compliance to the