10 Guilty Men

9/2/2013

Sir William Blackstone is a famous legal scholar responsible for writing a compilation of commentaries on law, which are still referenced today. He once said:

"It is better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape than One Innocent Suffer." (1765)

_Please respond by first explaining what this quote means and then fully answer what your belief is and whether you agree or disagree. Please answer fully!

image: http://legalhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/bernstein-reviews-prest-on-blackstone.html

26 Comments

Cole Carter

9/3/2013 01:12:02 am

I believe this quote means it is better to have ten criminals escaping from prison than one innocent man wrongfully accused of a crime. I agree with this idea because the innocent man is having his rights taken away for a crime he did not commit.

Val Young

9/3/2013 01:28:00 am

This quote to me, says that don't let 1 person get away with a crime that they never committed. Rather than 10 people facing time and doing what is right. Don't let 1 person be the scapegoat.

Shelbie Cornelius

9/3/2013 01:30:05 am

I believe that this quote means that it is better to let ten convicted criminals go free than to have one man suffer for a crime that he didn't commit. I agree with this because I would rather see ten criminals go free then soon end up back in jail then to see an innocent man go to jail for a crime that he didn't commit.

Ashlyn Farrell

9/3/2013 04:53:58 am

My interpretation of this quote's meaning is that an innocent person should not be falsely accused and have to suffer, therefore it's better for ten criminals be let free. I do agree that the innocent person should be let go rather than suffer. Punishing them for a crime they did not commit is just as terrible as committing a crime itself. I do however get nervous about letting the ten criminals free because that just helps them become more conniving and branch out to more serious offenses/crimes. Although I am apprehensive of the first part, I do agree that it is wrong to let an innocent person suffer. And I believe that in some circumstances it is better to let the ten go rather than to keep the one innocent a prisoner.

Michael Oliver

9/3/2013 05:05:54 am

The words "It is better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape than One Innocent Suffer." (1765) spoken by Sir William Blackstone address the administering of justice in a court of law. Here Blackstone is saying that it is better for ten guilty men to escape punishment rather than an innocent man be punished for something he did not do. There is no way for the innocent man to be consoled after being accused and sentenced but guilty men set free can always be sought after again. With that reasoning I fully agree with Blackstone. No innocent man is deserving of punishment for something he didn't do and, truly, we as human beings have no right to determine the fate of others especially if no exact guilt can be identified.

Kellie Gilluly

9/3/2013 05:42:44 am

The quote by Sir William Blackstone means that it is better for ten guilty men to be set free rather than one innocent man to be punished. If a guilty man is set free he may think he was lucky to have gotten off the hook and be careful next time or he will just be caught the next time he disobeys the law. However, if an innocent man is put in jail, or worse, he receives a punishment he does not deserve, practically taking the fall for another persons wrongdoing. I agree with Sir William Blackstone, because if a person spends their life obeying the rules and being a good person they do not deserve to be punished. Although, I do not think a guilty man should ever be set free, I would much rather have no one suffer than the wrong person suffer.

Joe Hall

9/3/2013 06:18:46 am

I believe that the quote means that it is better to have ten criminals escape jail, rather than have one person pay for a crime that he didn't commit. I agree with the quote because I believe that no one should have to pay for a crime that they didn't commit.

Michelle Hanssen

9/3/2013 06:45:02 am

The intention of having a judicial branch in the U.S. Government, and others alike, is to bring about justice. Not merely to punish wrongdoers, or criminals, as the common misconception. In the instance of ten guilty persons escaping, the job of the court has straightforwardly been defective, incomplete. Yet in causing suffering to even one innocent individual, the court is not only not doing its job, but it is doing the exact opposite. It is not only morally incorrect, but it is counterproductive and renders the court useless. This quote may also refer to the importance and value of freedom and equality, even for those who have committed a crime in the past. Letting a guilty man run free is giving him another chance to repent, and not to become more resentful. It worked in the story of Jean ValJean in Les Miserables. I believe in Sir William Blackstone's statement, "It is better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape than One Innocent Suffer," and I believe in second chances.

Andrew LeClair

9/3/2013 07:46:19 am

This Quote means that not one man should suffer the consequences for the crimes of others who are free. I Believe that People who commit a crime should suffer the consequences and not let the man who has committed no crimes take the fall. Basically be a man and deal with the consequences of the actions you take. I Agree with what Blackstone is saying and is the morally right thing to do.

Morgan Grace

9/3/2013 10:06:43 am

This quote is actually quite literal, would it be better if ten guilty persons escape than one innocent sufferer? Personally, it would be better if the ten guilty persons were convicted of the crime that they caused rather than the one innocent sufferer because if those ten guilt persons were let back into the community, who knows, maybe hey could do worse than before and cause more problems with people around them.

Scott Martell

9/3/2013 10:49:49 am

I believe that the quote's meaning is stating that in moderation those who have not commited a crime should not have to suffer under any circumstances, and the quote states it would be more logical to have 10 people who have commited crimes to escape than punish an individual who is in innocent. I agree with the quote stated, the innocent have no right to suffer in jail.

Brady Gulluscio

9/3/2013 10:57:07 am

I believe this quotes meaning is that an innocent man being convicted is the worst thing a justice system can do. I agree with this quote because I too agree that an innocent man being convicted is the worst mistake a justice system can make. It is better for 10 criminals to be freed than one man suffer for a crime he or she did not commit.

Ricky Wolf

9/3/2013 11:12:34 am

To my understanding, I believe that the quote was created in order to teach us principals, that the incarceration of a innocent man is immoral and unjustified. Once the innocent have been punished, there is no looking back at the damage that has been done. I'd rather have 10 guilty men roam free than 1 innocent face the punishment of another man. Most likely, those 10 guilty men will continue their ways and will eventually receive justice for their actions. I'm in complete agreement with the quote.

Mackenzie Beck

9/3/2013 09:55:49 pm

The quote, "It is better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape than One Innocent Suffer." means that the one innocent man should not be the scapegoat for the ten guilty men. I would much rather watch ten guilty men run free, and probably commit another crime, than see one innocent man suffer in jail for committing nothing.

Mckayla Horan

9/4/2013 04:49:51 am

I think the quote most nearly means that it is better to have 10 guilty men escape rather than one innocent man suffer because no one should have to suffer the consequences of others wrongful actions. Even if it means that means that the 10 guilty men get away with no charge.

Rachael Fleming

9/4/2013 05:40:49 am

This quotes means that if ten people guilty of a crime escaped would be better than one person innocent of a crime suffering consequences. Someone who is innocent should not have to suffer for something they were wrongly accused of, it is unfair.

Alex Austin

9/4/2013 09:10:12 am

I believe that this quote means if one innocent person has to suffer for someone else mistakes then you should let 10 guilty people get away and let the innocent person live free. Then looking on the other side of this argument I believe it means if 10 guilty people can get away, then why should 1 innocent person suffer for the mistake the other person did. Whatever needs to be done to let the innocent person live free needs to be done. Then the guilty person is likely to make the same mistake twice so then they can be caught for the crime they did the second time

Morgan Smith link

9/4/2013 10:24:14 am

I believe this qoute means that it is better to have ten guilty people escape from prison then one person that isnt guilty.I believe this quote because I do not think it is right for someone who is not quilty to be charged with a crime they did not do.

Kerri Williams

9/4/2013 10:24:19 am

The quote, "It is better that Ten Guilty Persons Escape than One Innocent Suffer," was stated by Sir Williams Blackstone is 1765. It highlights one of the main purposes of the judicial branch. The government must provide for the majority but protect the rights of the minority. While it would certainly be detrimental to society to allow ten criminals to be acquitted for crimes in which we feel guilt is certain and fear they may strike again, it would be completely immoral and unethical to sentence an innocent man. In doing so, the government has failed to protect the rights of the innocent, a much greater issue than its blunder in allow the escape of ten criminals.

Terrell Norris

9/4/2013 11:08:23 am

I believe this quote means that it is wrong to let an innocent man go to jail for something he did not commit and be punished for someone else's wrong doing even if it means letting 10 other guilty men free. I disagree with this because with 10 men that should be in jail now have the opportunity to do it again even though that one person was falsely accused they are doing the community a favor.

Andrew Pappadia link

9/4/2013 11:28:09 am

I believe that this quote is saying that it is better to have ten guilty men then have one innocent man. I agree with this quote because I don't think it is right for one innocent man to have rights taken away when he did not do anything or commit a crime.

lindsay walker

9/4/2013 11:33:42 am

In my opinion this quote means that it's "better" or "the right" way, to have people that are guilty let free and not be punnished instead of onesingle person that is completely innocent be punished for a crime they never did. I somewhat agree with this quot because yes it isn't fair to be put away for something you didn't do or be killed. but then you also have to think about what crimes the guilty people committed, if they were vicious murders then no I don't think it is right for them to not be caught and punnished for their actions.

Justin Algiere

9/17/2013 12:07:43 am

This quote is trying to explain that it is worse to have one innocent man in jail than to let 10 people who did wrong, free. An innocent man should never be put in jail for a crime he did not commit, if this happened Sir William Blackstone is saying that he would rather free 10 guilty criminals than put one innocent man to jail.

Mario Speedwagon

7/31/2015 06:01:01 pm

It means the justice system Must Reflect the Racial, Nationality & Religious Background of A SOCIETY.
Monopolies are Illegal & must Be DENIED ESPECIALLY in A JUST SYSTEM.

N/A

3/14/2018 11:57:42 am

N/A

new orleans car accident lawyer link

3/19/2018 09:47:48 am

Once you have the highest rated personal injury lawyer handling the case on your behalf you can be assured of getting justice.

10 Guilty Men

Leave a Reply.

Author

Archives

Categories