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Today is International Wrongful Conviction Day. [View all]
http://www.amandaknox.comInternational Wrongful Conviction Day celebrates its third anniversary on Tuesday, October 4th. In honor of that, here’s a layman’s crash course in the causes of wrongful conviction, and a brief introduction to the Innocence Movement.
The Causes
Wrongful convictions are not some weird anomaly. Studies estimate that between 2.3 and 5% of people currently incarcerated are actually innocent. The causes of wrongful conviction are well-documented and stem from systemic problems. They are:
1) Inadequate defense
It would be nice if the simple fact of your innocence were enough to protect you from having to face criminal charges. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Time and again, innocent people are forced to stand trial, and their futures depend not so much on the fact of their innocence as on how well their lawyers make a case for their innocence. When an overworked or incompetent lawyer fails to make the case, an innocent person will be wrongfully convicted.
2) Invalid forensic evidence
In the last thirty years, extensive scientific research has enhanced our ability to accurately and reliably analyze biological evidence. As a result, DNA testing has become the most effective means of identifying the guilty and exonerating the innocent. Still, there are innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted based on forensic techniques that have proved unreliable—bite mark and shoe print comparisons, for example—or because of the results of valid forensic techniques that have been conducted improperly, misrepresented, or fabricated entirely.
3) Government misconduct
Even the most well-intentioned investigators and prosecutors can cave under social pressure and be influenced by their biases, prejudices, and overzealousness. They can make terrible mistakes, particularly when they develop tunnel vision. They focus their attention on the wrong person, blind themselves to other avenues of inquiry, and overlook, undervalue, or suppress exonerating evidence. Still others are simply corrupt, caring more about securing convictions than ensuring justice.
The Causes
Wrongful convictions are not some weird anomaly. Studies estimate that between 2.3 and 5% of people currently incarcerated are actually innocent. The causes of wrongful conviction are well-documented and stem from systemic problems. They are:
1) Inadequate defense
It would be nice if the simple fact of your innocence were enough to protect you from having to face criminal charges. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Time and again, innocent people are forced to stand trial, and their futures depend not so much on the fact of their innocence as on how well their lawyers make a case for their innocence. When an overworked or incompetent lawyer fails to make the case, an innocent person will be wrongfully convicted.
2) Invalid forensic evidence
In the last thirty years, extensive scientific research has enhanced our ability to accurately and reliably analyze biological evidence. As a result, DNA testing has become the most effective means of identifying the guilty and exonerating the innocent. Still, there are innocent people who have been wrongfully convicted based on forensic techniques that have proved unreliable—bite mark and shoe print comparisons, for example—or because of the results of valid forensic techniques that have been conducted improperly, misrepresented, or fabricated entirely.
3) Government misconduct
Even the most well-intentioned investigators and prosecutors can cave under social pressure and be influenced by their biases, prejudices, and overzealousness. They can make terrible mistakes, particularly when they develop tunnel vision. They focus their attention on the wrong person, blind themselves to other avenues of inquiry, and overlook, undervalue, or suppress exonerating evidence. Still others are simply corrupt, caring more about securing convictions than ensuring justice.
Amanda Knox has continued to work with the Innocence Project since her exoneration in Italy.
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