Forgiveness and criminal law
Recently, a Saudi Prince who was about to be executed for his crime of murder was given a reprieve when the family of the victim forgave him and cancelled the execution. Apparently, in Saudi Arabia, a criminal defendant can be excused from punishment for their crimes IF the victim, or the family of the victim consent. The US legal system allows no parallel provision it its criminal codes.
Should the victim or the victim's family be allowed to excuse from punishment a criminal defendant or should the government be allowed to proceed even against the wishes of the victim or the victim's family?
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If I'd lived in Roman times, I'd have lived in Rome. Where else? Today America is the Roman Empire and New York is Rome itself. - John Lennon
April 15th, Make it just another day!
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