Not Guilty: The Tragedy of Wrongful Convictions in the US

NOT GUILTY The Tragedy of Wrongful Convictions in the US and the DNA Evidence that Frees Them Our legal system, though one of the best in the world, is still deeply flawed, and wrongful convictions - the true number of which will never be known - are one of its most devastating effects. Luckily, science has worked hard to remedy the situation. Using DNA evidence, forensic scientists have been able to clear the names of almost 300 wrongfully convicted people. But this great work is only the beginning. 271 convicts have been exonerated by DNA evidence in US history. 204 of them have taken place after 2000. 17 13 of these people were on death row. YEARS is the average sentence served by DNA exonerees. (The number of years it takes to go from kindergarten to high- school graduation.) 3,494 the total number of years served. 27 Average age at time of conviction. 70% In nearly 40% of DNA exonerees are members of minority groups. of DNA exoneration cases, the true culprit was later identified using DNA evidence. ONLY HALF In nearly 1 OUT OF 5 of exonerees have been financially compensated. exoneration cases, prosecutors had opposed DNA tests. EXONERATIONS BY STATE: 10 20+ 11-19 6-10 1-5 CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION Eyewitness Misidentification Snitches 19% of cases 75% of exonerations Snitches, who often fabricate testimony, The single greatest cause of wrongful convictions in the nation. may be told they'll be released from or avoid going to prison if they testify. |+ Improper Forensic Science False confessions 25% of exonerations 50% of exonerations Methods like bite mark and shoeprint analysis are often implemented with no scientific rigor. The suspect may believe they'll be better off through confession. SUPPLEMENTARY CAUSES: Bad Lawyering In rare but documented cases, lawyers may sleep during trial, show up drunk, fail to show up at all, or be dis- barred shortly after trial. Government Misconduct Investigators may make suggestions to witnesses during identification, arrange false testimony, or exclude evidence from trial unjustly. WORST OFFENDERS: NEW YORK ILLINOIS OKLAHOMA TEXAS False confessions False confessions False confessions False confessions Eyewitness Identification Eyewitness Identification Eyewitness Identification Eyewitness Identification Government Misconduct Government Misconduct Government Misconduct Government Misconduct Snitches Snitches Snitches Snitches Bad Lawyering Bad Lawyering Bad Lawyering Improper Forensic Science Bad Lawyering Improper Forensic Science Improper Forensic Science THE TRIPLE TRAGEDY OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION Innocent person is imprisoned. True perpetrator goes free. Victim goes without justice. COLLECT DNA SAMPLES In exoneration cases, DNA from original crime scene is often still in storage. ANALYZE IN LAB Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) replicates small HOW DNA ANALYSIS strands of DNA to create a usable sample. WORKS Short Tandem Repeat Analy- sis (STR) searches for repeti- tions of base pairs in DNA. PRESENT EVIDENCE AT TRIAL If the samples match, it is very likely the suspect is guilty; if they don't, there is zero chance he is guilty, and suspect suspect suspect # 1 crime scene #33 he must be exonerated. COMPARE TO SUSPECT Chances can be as low as 1 in 1 billion that 2 people have the same base pair patterns. TAKE ACTION: Though great strides in science and legislation have been made to free and help those who have been wrongly convicted. There is still much work to be done, and the damage these mistakes have done to the lives of its victims can never be quantified or fully repaired. Not only are wrongful convictions still occurring, but 23 states still do not have compensation statutes for paying back the exonerated after their release. Reach out to representatives in your area and find out what you can do to help. Visit www.InnocenceProject.org for more information on how to help. Created By www.ForensicScience.org References: http://www.innocenceproject.org http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/dna-evidence.htm http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/d/dna_evidence/ind ex.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Ddna%20evidence&st3cse This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. BC