I believe that the phrase/quote you're looking for is: "Better a thousand guilty go free than one innocent be executed."
Blackstone's formulation: "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer".
Innocent or acquitted.
The antonym for innocent is guilty.
It is challenging to determine an exact number of innocent people in jail, as it can vary depending on the justice system and country. However, studies and organizations have estimated that there could be thousands of innocent individuals wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. Efforts are being made to prevent and correct wrongful convictions through measures such as improved legal procedures and the use of DNA evidence.
Innocent.
The antonym of innocent is guilty.
Innocent or acquitted.
Innocent or Not Guilty
acquitted or found innocent
Innocent or acquitted.
The cast of Innocent Criminals - 2003 includes: Aviv Geffen Tamer Nafar
Innocent Criminals
No, not until acquitted.
ACQUITTED (found innocent) : synonyms are "freed", "cleared", "absolved" and "exonerated".
Leon Mobley of Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals. For sure.
... may or may not be convicted of the crime ... At least in the USA... On the other hand if there is reasonable doubt that a person is guilty of a crime, he or she is supposed to be acquitted (which is not the same as declared innocent).
If you are declared to be not guilty by a court, then you are acquitted and go free (the court has found you innocent of the charges brought against you).If you declare yourself to be not guilty, then you are denying the accusations made against you. A court will then hold a trial to determine the truthfulness of your claim.
All criminals are allowed a lawyer that is part of the maranda rights. Also they get a public defender if they can not afford a lawyer. Lawyers are not just for the guilty they are for the innocent as well.