I can only speak for the US legal system and similar ones when I say that to be sentenced to death it would need to be a criminal court case, and criminal prosecutors rarely if ever get rich directly off of convictions. Criminal defense attorneys can get rich from winning. Now, a criminal prosecutor, a civil servant, doesn’t get paid a whole lot in general compared to higher end defense lawyers, but a solid conviction record can help their stats when it comes time for promotions or if they later decide to run for District Attorney or get into politics else wise. It can also help them to sell books, or to get paid speaking arrangements and prosecutors seeking the “beach house”generally have better odds of going private if they have a good win record. That said- politics at the office plays a role. So even if the attorney isn’t angling for a conviction for their own gain- their bosses might put pressure on them.
The DA is an elected position and part of what tends to win elections is a strong record on crime. Being able to say “under my office 500 murders were locked up…” things like that. Sometimes it isn’t about the DA but the mayors office or city hall. If the downtown area business district is getting known as “unsafe,” the merchants and donors and general public might pressure leaders, the mayor or various city offices. Then they pressure the police and DA to “fix it.” Which a good deal of the time involves crock downs and going for many convictions and harsh sentences. There is also a relationship between the attorneys office and the police. Many with a mind to ethics will say those offices shouldn’t ever be too friendly while others will say that a good relationship between them is a key lubricant in the system of justice.
Regardless, there are times where the attorneys office needs to be mindful of various factors. And sometimes that involves an aspect of “cover up.” Again- ethics debate, but some public offices will potentially try to assist police in avoiding scandal or loss of public trust and others won’t. So there are lots of politics for sure that can swing cases and how they are worked but ultimately most of the time money is less the direct result of criminal prosecution.
Another note is that the way at least the US justice system works, it doesn’t matter if an attorney thinks you are guilty or not more or less. Attorneys do not decide who gets convicted. A judge, or a jury of their peers do. It is a legal and ethical duty of a lawyer to present their case for their side- defense and prosecution. The lawyer has an obligation to do their best. They represent the system not themselves. This is sort of critical to the concept of “justice is blind.” Who WANTS to defend an accused child molester? Most people would want to see that person punished and wouldn’t want to get their side of the story or sit with them and talk to them or try to help them. A justice system that respects human rights believes two things at least.
1. Until proven guilty you are innocent and should be treated innocent but under suspicion.
2. ALL people deserve an advocate for their rights no matter what they have done.
1. Until proven guilty you are innocent and should be treated innocent but under suspicion.
2. ALL people deserve an advocate for their rights no matter what they have done.