Houshalter comments on Diseased thinking: dissolving questions about disease - Less Wrong

236 Post author: Yvain 30 May 2010 09:16PM

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Comment author: Houshalter 02 June 2010 01:09:50PM -2 points [-]

What do you mean? They did do DNA testing and discovered that dozens of people in prisons actually were innocent.

Also, there's plea bargaining, which I think adds up to saying that we'd rather put people into prison without making the effort to find out whether they're guilty.

Thats to make sure that if someone actually is innocent and more evidence comes up later, they can get out rather then rot away for the rest of their lives. Its a good thing.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 02 June 2010 10:46:16PM 5 points [-]

Everything I've read about DNA testing for prisoners has said that it was difficult for them to get the testing done. In some cases, they had to pay for it themselves.

Plea bargaining isn't just for life sentences.

I'm not sure you understand what plea bargaining is-- it means that a suspect accepts a shorter sentence for a lesser accusation in exchange for not taking the risk of getting convicted of a more serious crime at a trial.