Richard Miles was convicted of murder in Dallas in 1996 and released in 2009 after it was discovered prosecutors hid reports implicating other suspects. (Image via texasobserver.org)
Our criminal justice system is less than perfect, a non-controversial fact which is one of the reasons we oppose the use of an absolute and irreversible punishment like execution.
The new National Registry of Exonerations, produced by the University of Michigan and Northwestern University law schools, provides a glimpse of just how imperfect. It lists almost 900 known exonerations since 1989. Around 100 of those listed had been sent to death row; the remainder had been sent to prison for everything from homicide to white collar crimes.
The Registry’s accompanying report (p. 84, Table 18), documents another 1,170 exonerations from a group of major law enforcement scandals, mostly involving drug crimes.
This snapshot of known exonerations is revealing. According to the report summary, the chief causes of the wrongful convictions were faulty or perjured witness testimony and official misconduct, though almost a quarter involved bad forensic science, and 16% of those exonerated had initially falsely confessed.
But the exonerated represent only a portion of the wrongfully convicted. Plenty of other innocent prisoners are falling through the cracks. Most counties and states in the U.S. do not dedicate themselves to uncovering convictions of the innocent. As the report summary states plainly: “It is clear that there are many more false convictions than exonerations.”
It is clear that there are many more false convictions than exonerations.
Oversight at the same consistently high level nationally, rather than in just a handful of states and counties, would give us a truer picture of the scope of the wrongful conviction problem in our country, and would protect more innocent people from continued imprisonment or even execution.
But the picture painted by the National Registry of Exonerations is disturbing even without more complete information. It is also not terribly surprising. We make mistakes. And we will continue to do so.
Do they make mistakes or do they overlook cruelty. Some of these prosecutors just want to make a name for themselves and don't care who they step on to get to the top. It's sad that not everyone can afford adequate legal council to combat this obstruction of justice. If I had a voice I would use it to help all people.
You do have a voice EVERYONE HAS THE CHOICE to voice . I believe it's our Duty to speak against any injustice anywhere seeking truth and all evidence behind it. America is not going under because of the evil doers , It will for those who sew or know it and DO NOTHING …. Thank u for you for acknowledging it does exist. .
Sarah: make no mistake about it, you DO have a voice. Use it.
Having witnessed wrongful conviction due to a broken legal system first hand I feel that the system extorts pleas in exchage for expediancy and political gain. Cases take on a life of their own which frequently has very little to do with what actually happened . It is compounded by the attitude that convicted criminals deserve what they get while in prison with no care about the responsibilities of warehousing human beings who have already, in many cases, been victims themselves. Labeling seems to allow people to view prisoners as things and not people. This system needs to be changed. It is the most uncivilized thing I have ever witnessed. deb
I dont understand why prosecutors', the detectives who investigate the cases and submit false evidence or hide evidence, the DA's and the witnesses who have been offered deals to give false testimony in court for their own freedom, dont have any accountability in these proven innocent cases. They should all be put before the court themselves.
Most guilty people are guilty of something…maybe not as charged, but something. Most criminal lawyers will tell you they have never had a truly innocent client.
Please report to the nearest prison. Your crime is being an asshole.
I'm an asshole…and proud! Hairy, too!
Which prison…a very fascist comment, matey…are you sure you should be on this website. Meself, I'm just an anarchist and a pirate…Arrrr!!
I'm guilty and I was acquitted!
—Richard M. Nixon
The system is very flawed. There is no question about it. I don't know how you can even trust a system that still uses the capital punishment.
This is a very big problem. I can understand some mistakes, but these numbers are very bad. And I'm sure the people who suffer because of this don't get anything back except for some apologies.