X is an ill-tempered man who did not commit a crime and does not want to go to prison. Y, a mild-mannered taxi cab driver, did commit the crime, but he also does not want to go to prison. Ten people believe that X, the innocent man, committed a crime and are very afraid of him. These same ten people are not fearful of Y, even though he actually is the guilty man.
The government has decided that it will imprison innocent man X, not Y.
a. From the perspective of utilitarianism, was the government's act ethical?
b. From the perspective of deontology, was the government's act ethical?