What Chance Of Innocence Can Be Tolerated For Conviction?

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
"The problem with putting a number to the question is that it lends a false air of precision where none should exist. Do you really want the prosecutor to say, "The chance that David didn't do it is LESS THAN 2%!" Especially if you happen to know you in fact didn't commit the crime for which you were convicted?"

This particular argument is silly. What's the big difference between saying "his chances of being innocent is less than 2%" and he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

[/ QUOTE ]
Its not silly at all. There's a massive problem that as soon as numbers are put on things people start believing the numbers, base further decisions firmly on the numbers forgetting they were probably made up in the first place.

The idea that jury members are going to come up with meaningful numbers is a triumph of hope over experience.

chez