Should governments have the power to jail suspects without trial?

Topic:
Law Debates

28 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
32% of users

  • Suspected criminals are at risk of going on the run.

    I feel that criminals suspected of committing crimes should be jailed prior to their trial. They are likely to not show up for their trial, and in turn they could cause harm to others during this time of mania. I do feel, however, that this should depend on the severity of the crime and the suspect's past history of showing up to court.

    Yes CleanJoey

  • Yes, I agree governments should have the power to jail suspects without a trial because if they have a reason to be a suspect, they're usually guilty anyways.

    I think governments should have the power to jail suspects without a trial because if they are a suspect, they're obviously under some cloud of suspicion and usually turn out to be guilty. Trials can be a major waste of taxpayer money and usually is. Especially for cases when someone is so blatantly guilty. What do they need a trial for? Of course there would have to be limits so innocent people are not thrown in jail, but it should be allowed in proper measures are taken.

    Yes I33Iess

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects indefinitely without a trial, because this is a violation of a fundamental human right.

    Governments should not have the power to jail suspects indefinitely without a trial, because this is a violation of a fundamental human right. In the U.S., this right is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. Every person has a right to a trial, at which the possibility of their guilt or innocence is examined and a decision is reached by either a jury of their peers or a judge, as the law mandates. Otherwise, we would be living in a totalitarian society.

    Yes R0xHart

  • Our government should be able to jail suspects without a trial when they have good evidence to prove they have committed a crime.

    When someone is named a suspect, it does not necessarily mean they have committed a crime. But, if there is enough evidence to prove that the person has bad intentions or may be dangerous, the only thing to stop them from continuing that sort of behavior is to be incarcerated. Sometimes people are named suspects and they are not responsible for the crime, and unfortunately sometimes, they get blamed for things they have not done. But, if someone is a threat for whatever reason, the government should have the authority to take them off of our streets.

    Yes TatumH

  • In certain circumstances I think our government must be given the option of jailing suspects without a trial in war time situations and in circumstances where national security interests are involved.

    I think it is an option that must be carefully considered but there are circumstances where I believe it is necessary. In times of war when we are taking a lot of enemy combatants into custody it's hard to think of trying to give all those prisoners a trial. Holding enemy prisoners is a part of war. Plus there may be times when issues of national security override individual rights.

    Yes TasticBran

  • The government should not put people in jail until they have enough information to declare them guilty or not guilty.

    The people that are charged with committing a crime have the right to a fair trial no matter what. Everyone deserves a fair trial no matter what the circumstances are. That is like assuming something before you had perfect evidence to prove that it happened and would be faulty if it was wrong.

    Yes waffletime

  • If the crime committed is so heinous and detrimental to society, government should have the right to jail someone without trial.

    Some crimes, particularly terrorism, are not victimless crimes. In fact, they are victim rich crimes, effecting possibly millions of people. If someone is known to have ties to terrorist groups, then they should not be released from prison, only to return to their native land and continue in terrorist activities.

    Yes R0m4nticCar

  • Some crimes are so horrible that i believe the death penalty is justified.

    When it appears that rehabilitation is not an option for a violent offender, the death penalty is justified. One reason for this is the cost to the taxpayers to support a person in prison who will make no contribution to society for the rest of his or her life. When a person crosses the line and takes away the civil rights of another through murder or sexual molestation of a child, along with other horrendous crimes, they do not deserve to live once they have been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

    Yes R0d0Ferdy

  • Governments should have the right to jail prisoners without trial if they are considered a risk to the greater community.

    This issue should be decided on a case by case basis dependent on the crime and the risk the individual poses to the community. A serial killer, pedophile or major drug dealer are examples of those who may present a risk to the public in addition to being a flight risk. Individuals who may flee the country should also be considered good candidates for imprisonment prior to trial.

    Yes R3n5God2iIIa
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No
68% of users

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without a trial, because it violates basic civil rights.

    People are often falsely accused of crimes. Allowing people to be jailed without trial would result in the incarceration of a lot of innocent people. The power could be severely abused and governments could end up imprisoning their citizens, that they know are innocent, as a way to suppress free speech or in retaliation for a viewpoint that the government does not support.

    No NineNathanial43

  • No government should be able to jail suspects without trial, because the right to trial is a hallmark of civilized societies.

    No government should be allowed to jail suspects without trial. It is a basic human right to be allowed to defend oneself in a court of law, when one is accused of a crime. For a government to allow its citizens to be held without trial is a gross violation of that right.

    No BrownDustin82

  • A person is innocent until proven guilty.

    To prevent abuses of law and justice, governments should not have the power to jail suspects without a trial. Every person is innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his or her peers. The jury has the responsibility of hearing the facts and deciding upon the case, and unless they decide the person is guilty, the government should have no right to jail a person.

    No SpikyWesley

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without trial, because that goes against the basic principle of "innocent, before proven guilty."

    Jailing a suspect without trial goes against basic human rights, and essentially convicts a suspect without giving them due process. This is not only unfair, but I also believe it should be illegal. All suspects deserve the right to a fair trial, if necessary, and should not be subjected to treatment as a criminal if they are not yet a convicted criminal.

    No CompleteJerrod

  • Without a speedy trial, the defendant might not be able to be declared guilty certainly. Something has to be tried to make a decision.

    The sixth amendment gives this right, and the government should take it. Many suspected terrorists were accused of being terrorists and went to jail without being tried. Many went to jail being innocent and tortured. If only they went on a speedy trial, many wouldn't have gone to jail for no apparent reason.

    No Anonymous

  • The right to trial was created due to the injustices seen when there isn't a demand for speedy trial.

    When a trial is necessitated to be a relatively speedy event, the accused are often left to serve time, without any justification for their presence in the jail. In the past, a jail could be used to lock someone away that disagreed with your interests or opinion, and left too much power with law enforcement. People were jailed for simply being poor. No matter what the supposed crime, all have a right to a trial.

    No daveyxh

  • This right would be too easily abused for political or financial ends.

    If the government could jail people without trial, it would allow those in power to maintain power by jailing potential political or financial rivals. If there is no means to review criminal charges, then there is no protection from abusive, corrupt or incompetent prosecution.

    No ZachBest

  • I do not believe that governments should be allowed to jail suspects without a fair trial.

    People can end up in situations that are unforeseen. They may also be framed or guilty by misidentify. So it is not fair for governments to jail suspects without trail. Suspects have the right to plea their case and have opposing arguments.

    No R34IHanan

  • Allowing the government the freedom to put suspects in jail without having a trial is just simply unconstitutional!

    I believe that every suspect deserves a fair trial. The Constitution of the United States guarantees every person the right to a fair and just trial, and just jailing people without a trial will cause an uproar like this country has never seen!

    No AdrM0t0

  • I do not believe that governments should have the power to jail suspects without a trial because that goes against the idea of innocent until proven guilty.

    I believe that without a trial that a suspect is unlawfully jailed. I think that if you jail someone without proving the facts and doing a proper investigation and then a proper trial then that person has only experienced unlawful justice. Governments don't always know whether the suspect they have in custody is the person that committed the crime.

    No ChrIive

  • Countries should not have the power to jail suspects without trial because people are innocent until proven guilty.

    Countries should not have the power to jail suspects without trial because a trial justifies whether or not the person is guilty. Unless a person is guilty of a crime, they should not be in jail or prison. Thus, a trial is necessary to establish guilt and without the establishment of guilt a person should not be jailed by any country.

    No Sk8rChri

  • A trial is something that everyone is entitled to and deserves.

    How can it be known if someone is guilty or innocent if someone does not get a trial, it cannot be. It is unfair to just assume that someone is guilty if they never received a trial. The government should not be allowed to decide everything and to do whatever they please.

    No B3rkIffy

  • Governments should not be able to jail people without a trial because it's inhumane.

    Governments should not be able to jail people without a trial because it's inhumane. Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to defend themselves, to answer charges lodged against them. If people can be held without trial indefinitely, who decides who those prisoners should be? Who decides how they should be treated and for how long?

    No H0bi3Invader

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without a fair trial.

    According to laws that go back centuries, people who are accused of a crime have a right to a fair trail by their peers. For a government to act against this and place suspects in jail for an indefinite period of time without trial goes back a long-established and traditional legal system. That is the way of dictatorships--and not the United States or any other country should operate.

    No ElwBoardin

  • No individual should ever be jailed without the full application of due process.

    Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without trial because they are just that - suspects that have not been found guilty of any crime. To jail any individual without trial is to present a government that is not a democracy in any form, it is a police state. If this is the case, freedom is gone from the affected society as people are afraid to dissent for reasons of retaining limited freedom.

    No ThegaXen

  • I oppose governments jailing suspects without trial, everyone has the right to a trial, jailing them without questioning is unjust.

    If the government could throw suspects in jail without trial, this would give them too much power and eventually the government would be committing act of corruption. It would not make sense to arrest an individual who may no relation whatsoever to the crime just because they were labeled a suspect. Arresting without sending people on trial can lead to misidentified people being forced to accept the fate decided on the governments' behalf which will lead to possible violence as no one is stupid enough to quietly accept things when they have been wronged.

    No MyHier

  • The government should not be able to jail suspects without trial, as this violates the suspect's rights.

    The government should not have the ability to hold people in jail without a trial. Our entire legal system is based on the "innocent until proven guilty" principal and it needs to remain that way. if the government could put anyone in jail without a trial, then they could literally put anyone at all in jail without even having cause. This would cause extreme problems in society.

    No TwoVic

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without trial.

    I understand that in some certain circumstances this would be acceptable, however, if you give the government this power it would be an open door. Unfortunately, there are corrupt people in almost every government. This would just add to, what many Americans call, "Big Brother Syndrome". Government would now have the power to take away your Civil Rights at any time in any place. It would give them the ultimate power to come to your home and jail you for no reason. I am not stating that this would absolutely happen but it is human nature. If man is given the opportunity to do something for his own gain with no repercussions then the need to do so will soon follow.

    No w00tboycomic

  • Governments should not have the power to jail suspects without trial because it is an injustice to potentially innocent people.

    If the government was free of corruption, this would be easier to accept. Since we have proof that the government doesn't always act in the most honorable of ways, then it is only fair that a person gets to face his accuser and be judged by his peers. Otherwise, an innocent man could serve jail time just to help someone else's agenda.

    No Z Frye
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