Innocence, when viewed within the realm of the death penalty, is an ambiguous legal term. It includes situations in which the inmate is actually innocent as well as situations in which a(n) _________ occurred at sentencing.

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In the context of the death penalty and legal proceedings, "innocence" can refer to cases where the person is factually innocent of the crime they were accused of, as well as cases where there was a procedural or legal error during their sentencing. This could include incorrect application of laws, mishandling of evidence, or other judicial mistakes that could impact the fairness and accuracy of the sentencing outcome. Conviction is the result of a trial where the accused is found guilty, not a situation that would imply innocence. Exoneration occurs when someone is officially cleared of blame, which is a result of proving innocence or error, not a cause.

Innocence, When Viewed Within the Realm of the Death Penalty