[rbanffy]

Death penalty would be applied much more responsibly if, in case an innocent person got executed, everyone involved in the verdict, police, forensics experts, prosecutors, judge and jurors, would have to be charged of at least manslaughter.

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

[bediger4000]

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

Is the US (Texas?) law enforcement that corrupt? That's actually pretty shocking that the only realistic outcome of holding those who execute the innocent is that the system would get even more biased.

[gamblor956]

Yes. Its even worse if you're not white. The prevailing attitude in Texas and most other southern states is that if you're being prosecuted, you must be guilty. It's what lets prosecutors get away with, literally, murder.

[gizmo686]

This scenario does not seem that corrupt. Everyone involved in the case, collectivly, has significant power to destroy evidence, and they would all be facing criminal prosecution.

[bediger4000]

But the District Attorneys and the Law Enforcment officers have taken the moral equivalent of Holy Vows to do the right thing, and destroying any evidence is obviously the Wrong Thing.

Doesn't law enforcement derive all of their moral authority from always doing the right thing, from treating everyone exactly alike? If there's a significant percentage of law enforcement that is just out to "get someone", they have about zero moral authority.