¶ … Wrongful Convictions' by Balko Radley discusses the issues surrounding the conviction and imprisonment of innocent persons. It outlines the causes of wrongful convictions and the challenges encountered in trying to obtain compensation upon release. The author seeks to show how prevalent wrongful convictions are, and demonstrate the need to address the same. The story of Paul House - who was wrongfully convicted of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment, and released more than two decades later with serious health complications, after his innocence was proven - is used to demonstrate the pain and suffering caused by wrongful convictions. The article employs a highly formal tone, as demonstrated by the use of such legal jargons as qualified immunity, mandatory minimum sentence, and civil liability, among others. It makes use of a passive voice, focusing on the actions (false testimony, overreliance on eyewitness testimony and false confessions) rather than on the doer; and the author speaks as an educated person addressing a group of his peers. This is evidenced by the fact that he does not provide explanations to the complex jargons used, in the assumption that the target group --...
I would use images, for instance, including cartoons, to illustrate a police officer coercing a witness to confess to a crime they did not commit so as to create a feel of drama and humor; graphs in place of figures; and an eye-catching subject line to draw the attention of all readers, regardless of their profession. As it is, the article only appeals to persons in the legal profession, and perhaps scholars and researchers; but not interested laymen.
Wrongful Conviction Review: Henry James Wrongful convictions are convictions where "factually innocent people are convicted of crimes" (Acker & Redlich, 2011, p.3). There are a number of ways that wrongful convictions can occur. Two of these ways are no crime convictions and wrong man convictions (Acker & Reclich, 2011, p.7-8). No crime convictions occur when someone is convicted of a crime, generally murder, and then it is later discovered that no
Wrongful Conviction of James Henry Henry James was only 19 years during his conviction for rape that he did not commit. It is after thirty years imprisonment that the realization of his innocence emerges thereby keeping it free. This case is a good example of the importance of evidence in the proceedings of a case. The imprisonment of the innocent man arose because of the little evidence that he had against
The over-enthusiasm associated with the extensive and unrestrained caution which the prosecutors avail gives birth to the settings in which a prosecutor is able to cause the conviction of an innocent individual. Besides, the mixture of over-enthusiasm and unimpeded discretion on one side and regular non-adversarialness on the other outcomes in an irregular playing field in majority of the defendants either guilty or innocent. (Griffin, 1274) The apparent cases of
Why would somebody confess to a crime they did not commit? According to professor Kassin, Saul, there are several types of people who falsely confess: compulsive type-attention seeker -- confesses to gain a piece of the fame, impress others, or to get attention compulsive type-homeless -- confesses as a way to get off the streets compulsive type-fugitive -- confesses to avoid being prosecuted for a crime elsewhere with stiffer penalties compulsive
Wrongful Convictions Based on Eyewitness Accounts Imagine if you will this hypothetical scenario -- you are walking to your car in a parking garage after a long day at work. You are tired and thinking of what is waiting for you on your desk tomorrow and what you will have to eat when you get home. Suddenly, a man jumps out from behind a parked car and points a gun at
(iv) misconduct by the police or unintentional mistake, together with the application of suggestive identification procedures, pressuring of a confession or inculpatory declaration by a suspect, not carrying out other channels of investigation following initial detection of a powerful suspect, and being unsuccessful to give the prosecutor enough proof which is able to point to an individual other than the defendant as the person behind the act. (v) Mistake
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