Innocent until proven guilty

It appears this is the buzz phrase of the day or week.  Such an important concept but not one to be taken lightly, out of context, or miss used.

It is a hard one for me, as I work with victims of crime on a daily basis and although the perception of the general public is that this is how our judicial system works, it isn’t quite that simple.

All too frequently, what I see is that the burden lies on the victim to prove that it happened, not on the perpetrator to prove they are innocent.

“are you sure?”

“Maybe you misunderstood”

“you know she lies a lot”

“Well you were drinking.”

“kids come up with the darndest things”

“he is a good person and would never do that”

How do you prove within a reasonable doubt that something did occur when the only two people that know are the two people that were there?

Who should bare that burden?

What can we do to make the system work?

What harm is there in believing everyone’s version of what happened?

Can we not let research, facts, and statements, speak for themselves?

Can we agree to remain objective, neutral, and look for the truth?

What happens when innocent people go to jail, when guilty people get away with what they did.  When the system fails you simply based on your economic ability to obtain counsel or the color of your skin?

If only we could go with the saying “innocent until proven guilty”

Who knows, I might sleep better at night but I doubt it.