Even if our justice system could credibly be called race-neutral, which is not remotely the case, mistakes happen. Arrogance, prejudice, ambition, stupidity, laziness, and any number of other human failings happen too, since everyone involved in the process is human. People (including police, prosecutors, etc.) inevitably become invested in a certain point of view about a case somewhere along the line. For many people, that investment will become very personal -- and they will naturally begin to resist any significant change in the cases direction, because too much of their ego, reputation and job security is at stake to back down. We invested huge amounts of time, money and resources into building a case against the wrong person, and now we have to start over again from scratch. We came very close to ruining, and ultimately ending, an innocent persons life in our eagerness to get a conviction. The real perpetrator remains at large. Could anyone claim not to feel fear and humiliation at the thought of having to call a press conference to confess such a thing to the wide world? Easier by far to tell yourself that the case couldnt have gotten to the point where you became involved in it (whatever that point may be) unless it was the real deal. All you have to do is let momentum do its job of carrying the thing forward, and keep your mouth shut, and you will continue to have a paycheck and a career (and co-workers who still speak to you, dont give you steaming dog poop when they get your name for Secret Santa, and dont spit in your coffee when you arent looking.) Humanity itself is the compellingly sufficient duh in the case against the death penalty, in my opinion. Im pretty sure Glenn Ford would agree. We cant give this man back the years he lost, spent separated from his loved ones, unable to do the simplest things that a free person takes for granted every day. But he is alive. At least we dont have his blood on our hands to add to our shame. At least he has a few years left to live his life as he chooses, under the open sky. And I hope Louisiana is forced to pay out enough compensation to Mr. Ford to make them feel that genuine reform of their justice system is cheaper than business as usual.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 07:07:19 +0000
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