Grappling with the Gray #58: Protecting the innocent?

Grappling with the Gray

It might be easier if everything was black and white. But that's not the world we live in. That's why we have to grapple with the gray.
This episode's ethics challenge:
Last week, actor Kevin Spacey was acquitted of all the sexual abuse charges that have dogged him for six years. During that time, his acting career collapsed, and many predict that, with his reputation in tatters, he will continue to struggle finding roles.
One of our foundational principles is guilty until proven innocent. But after so many high profile incidents of sexual abuse, it feels wrong to allow alleged predators to carry on with business as usual when, in the event they are eventually proven guilty, reaching a verdict often takes years, followed by years of appeals.
On the other hand, genuinely innocent individuals can have their lives destroyed by accusers who are vindictive, misguided, or simply mistaken. Often, we may never know the truth, as with the charges leveled by Anita Hill against Clarence Thomas. To make matters worse, the choosing of sides often appears to be motivated more from political affiliation than on the basis of evidence.
Trying a case in the court of public opinion led to the collapse of the 2006 charges against three Duke University Lacrosse players, largely because of overzealousness on the part of the prosecuting attorney. The players won damages for defamation, but they were never actually exonerated in the courtroom.
Is there a practical strategy for protecting and supporting victims without rushing to judgment? And if we simply have to accept the imperfections of the system, does erring on the side of caution favor the accuser or the accused?
Meet this week’s panelists:
Dr. Pauline Crawford is the conversation game changer. Her Corporate Heart Team works to empower women and men with a new understanding of fairness, respect for differences, and mutually beneficial business & life principles.
🟦 Melissa Hughes, Ph.D. is Founder and Principal of the Andrick Group, applying recent brain research to improve employee engagement, company culture, team dynamics, and innovation.
Brian Kelly is the CEO and Founder at Human Factors Consulting, LLC. He is an optimistic rebel, committed to humanizing leadership, relationships and workplaces by creating the conditions for people to thrive so your business can, too.
#ethics #culture #society #rights #grappling