Unit 5 Assignment Legal Terminology

Lessons from Wrongful Convictions

Sofia Roman

Kaplan University

Professor Butler

CM107

November 7, 2014

A wrongful conviction is a terrible injustice that is magnified when an actually innocent person spends years in prison or on death row. This has always been recognized by the U.S. legal system. The rising number of exonerations, however and growing awareness that such injustices occur every day in American courts raises doubts about the accuracy and fairness of the criminal justice system.

More than half the states do not legally authorize financial compensation for persons who were victimized by the criminal justice this way, although the number of state with compensation laws has grown in a number of years. Exonerated prisoners do not receive services of those provided to prisoners released on parole.

The failure of law enforcement to conduct an adequate investigation can lead to a wrongfully accused person. Once the accusation has been made, the error may or may not be discovered before conviction takes place. There are many causes of wrongful conviction. The first being eyewitness identification. This is when a witness observes the events taking place but it leads to an inaccurate description of the suspect. The incorrect administration of an eyewitness procedure can lead to a wrong person being picked.

False confessions can also play a role. Police must use proper techniques when interrogating a suspect or witness. A witness may intentionally or unintentionally give false information to police leading to a person being wrongfully accused.

Forensic science also plays a key role during police investigation. Failure to properly secure or investigate a crime scene can lead to the destruction or non-collection of key forensic evidence that can provide clues as to who committed the crime. At trial most of the causes of wrongful convictions may be present. During their investigation innocence projects often look for evidence of ineffective...