Well, Stalin had a habit of executing not only the suspected, but also their friends, family, and neighbors. He cared more for recall than precision. ... Util

Well, Stalin had a habit of executing not only the suspected, but also their friends, family, and neighbors. He cared more for recall than precision. ... Utilitarian arguments (to which I adhere to, in general) are hard. There are so many consequences, including ones that are not immediate. With putting people under arrest we often go for recall. Yes, it is a nasty experience for an innocent, but at the same time, it may avoid the case you mentioned. Which long-term consequences? First, just because someone is a murderer, does not mean he/she is going to go on a rampage. Second, if precision is high, people can trust the system in the long term, and give some feeling of safety. Compare it with a lynch mob scenario, where it is easy to mishandle justice (and, long term, a lot of innocent are at risk).