[honorgal]

Blackstone's ratio:

"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer".

It is individuals who break laws, while government administers justice (by determining guilt).

John Adams explains the importance of this principle:

"It is more important that innocence should be protected, than it is, that guilt be punished; for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world, that all of them cannot be punished.... when innocence itself, is brought to the bar and condemned, especially to die, the subject will exclaim, 'it is immaterial to me whether I behave well or ill, for virtue itself is no security.' And if such a sentiment as this were to take hold in the mind of the subject that would be the end of all security whatsoever".