Truth or Proof, what is the answer

What does it say about our society to know that we give more weight to so called proof in favor of truth?

When a person is accused of a crime and they go before the jury it will be more about the presentation of the so called evidence than it will be about the truth of the matter.

Say it isn't so Joe!

But it is the sad fact.  The best case to illustrate this is the O.J. Simpson trial.  Most everyone remembers that famous Cochran catchphrase "If they do not fit, you must acquit."

And of course we all remember the jury's verdict.  Not Guilty.

But what of the civil trial and the book "If I did It." by non other than the Juice himself?  

Enough about the Juice.  What about us as a society?  I know that the popular argument in favor of our current system of justice is that it's better to free a killer than it is to punish the guilty.  I'm sure that most of us can agree with that concept especially if you have ever found yourself on the other side of witness stand.  But that would only hold true for someone who could prove their innocence.  What of the innocent victims of the system?  

Those thousands of unfortunate people whose only crime was to be at the wrong place at the right time.  People like Kirk Bloodsworth, Rolando Cruz, Alejandro Hernendez, Verneal Jimerson, Dennis Williams and Robert Williams to name a few.  All convicted killers by the hand of lady justice, all later cleared through DNA testing.  Just not in time for all who just ran out of time before taking that long walk to their last moment.

So how do we balance all of these things; the rights of the accused with the rights of the victims mixed together with our collective righteous indignation over our government's apparent lack of control or comprehension over our modern day Gordian knot?  Should truth and the pursuit of it be paramount over the rights of privacy and laws preventing illegal search and seizure?  I'm sure the men and women that could have been freed through such pursuits would be in favor of it.  Would you or are you like many who would rather not suffer the intrusion at the hands of jack booted, small minded inquisitors? 

What do you think?