Wrongful Convictions
"There is no amount of money they could give me to replace twenty years of my life... I missed my kids' childhoods. I always wanted to be a father to them. They can't give that back. I missed all of that."
Exoneree Calvin Willis The enforcement of law and justice has evolved through time, yet, despite progress in the legal system; it is still impossible to safeguard every citizen from experiencing injustice and inequality. A person who is wrongfully convicted looses a good name, a reputation, their family, and career, but those innocent may also suffer a life sentence of 'prison rape and depression' (Paul Craig Roberts "the independent review"). Hundreds of men and women are released from prison after their initial conviction …show more content…
Diane was pregnant and the assault may have led to the fetus to be stillborn. I believe that this case was ruled with a bias towards women because Kevin was convicted based on Diane's testimony, though DNA testing technology was available.
In June of 2000, the Centre on Wrongful Convictions surveyed 67 different cases in both Canada and the United states. They found that of the 67 DNA exonerations, 51 of the convictions - 76.1% - had incorporated eyewitness identification testimony. It was shocking to find that the average time between the arrest and the exoneration of the defendant in the eyewitness cases was 95 months (just a little less than 8 years).
The history of the snitch' system dates back to old England, where snitches were ubiquitous and widespread, usually because of the monetary rewards, which followed their testimonies. Modern snitches or "informants" give testimonies in return for deals', special treatment, or the dropping of charges in the majority of cases. This system' produced a long line of betrayal and is the leading cause for wrongful convictions in capital cases (nearly 45.9% in the U.S.- of the 111 death row exonerations), like in the case of Joseph Green Brown who was sentenced to death in 1974 for the rape and murder of the owner of a small shop in Tampa, Florida. The prosecution rested primarily on the testimony of …show more content…
Sometimes they even grow to believe that they are guilty. Saul M. Kassin, professor of Psychology at Williams College is a leading researcher into false confessions. He divides them into three categories:
1. Voluntary, involving no external pressure.
2. "Coerced-compliant" in which the person realizes he is not guilty but confesses to the crime to receive a promised reward or avoid an adverse penalty.
3. "Coerced-internalized" in which an innocent suspect is induced to believe he or she is guilty.
[Some courts do not recognize this classification, but the
Exoneree Calvin Willis The enforcement of law and justice has evolved through time, yet, despite progress in the legal system; it is still impossible to safeguard every citizen from experiencing injustice and inequality. A person who is wrongfully convicted looses a good name, a reputation, their family, and career, but those innocent may also suffer a life sentence of 'prison rape and depression' (Paul Craig Roberts "the independent review"). Hundreds of men and women are released from prison after their initial conviction …show more content…
Diane was pregnant and the assault may have led to the fetus to be stillborn. I believe that this case was ruled with a bias towards women because Kevin was convicted based on Diane's testimony, though DNA testing technology was available.
In June of 2000, the Centre on Wrongful Convictions surveyed 67 different cases in both Canada and the United states. They found that of the 67 DNA exonerations, 51 of the convictions - 76.1% - had incorporated eyewitness identification testimony. It was shocking to find that the average time between the arrest and the exoneration of the defendant in the eyewitness cases was 95 months (just a little less than 8 years).
The history of the snitch' system dates back to old England, where snitches were ubiquitous and widespread, usually because of the monetary rewards, which followed their testimonies. Modern snitches or "informants" give testimonies in return for deals', special treatment, or the dropping of charges in the majority of cases. This system' produced a long line of betrayal and is the leading cause for wrongful convictions in capital cases (nearly 45.9% in the U.S.- of the 111 death row exonerations), like in the case of Joseph Green Brown who was sentenced to death in 1974 for the rape and murder of the owner of a small shop in Tampa, Florida. The prosecution rested primarily on the testimony of …show more content…
Sometimes they even grow to believe that they are guilty. Saul M. Kassin, professor of Psychology at Williams College is a leading researcher into false confessions. He divides them into three categories:
1. Voluntary, involving no external pressure.
2. "Coerced-compliant" in which the person realizes he is not guilty but confesses to the crime to receive a promised reward or avoid an adverse penalty.
3. "Coerced-internalized" in which an innocent suspect is induced to believe he or she is guilty.
[Some courts do not recognize this classification, but the