Wrongly Convicted Victims.edited

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Running head: WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS 1 WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS Student’s Name Institution

WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS 2 Wrongly Convicted Victims Introduction Considering that no federal agency keeps track of exonerations, it can be difficult to determine the number or percentage of wrongful convictions. They also do not provide information on wrongful convictions whenever they are discovered. With that said, wrongful convictions are not a new phenomenon because it only takes an individual being at the wrong place at the wrong time for them to face the harsh claws of the law. Despite being innocent, many factors result in these individuals getting convicted, such as mistaken witnesses, false confessions, and official misconduct. However, organizations such as the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization focused on exonerating wrongfully convicted persons, have become critical in helping the wrongfully convicted acquire justice. Therefore, there are several factors that come to play when it comes to convictions where at the end of the day, further investigations determine that the individual is innocent. Mistaken Witnesses Mistaken identifications count as the leading factor contributing to wrongful convictions. Out of the more than 375 wrongful convictions, 69 percent of them can be attributed to mistaken eyewitnesses (Innocence Project, 2020). According to Duncan (2019), at least 300 wrongful convictions in the United States have been overturned by DNA exonerations. This is more than 75 percent of wrongful convictions. The problem originates from inaccurate eyewitness identification of victims who end up getting incarcerated while the real perpetrators remain on the loose. Part of the reason eye witness identifications fail is that they assume that a perpetrator must be within a given suspect lineup, which results in the majority of wrongful convictions coming from eyewitness identifications (Duncan, 2019).

WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS 3 False Confessions False confessions also play a significant role when it comes to wrongful convictions, and they are considered as part of the most confusing aspects of primary contributors in wrongful convictions. Over 25 percent of wrongful convictions are a result of false confessions (Duncan, 2019). Without the presence of DNA testing, some of these cases would be difficult to overturn, mainly because it is difficult to begin disputing a confession (LaPorte, 2018). The main contributor to wrongful confessions is the interrogatory process that suspects undergo. The training of law enforcement officers revolves around determining the credibility of a suspect using non-accusatory questions, and sometimes this can result in serious repercussions for a lying suspect, including wrongful conviction (Duncan, 2019). Perjury or false accusation can also play a role in suspects making false confessions, especially in situations where they feel like they are facing imminent conviction and want to cut a deal or get reduced sentences (LaPorte, 2018). Official Misconduct Malfeasance also counts as a significant contributor to wrongful convictions considering that official misconduct has contributed to at least 54 percent of wrongful convictions that end up in the suspects getting exonerated (LaPorte, 2018). Official misconduct is a combination of several factors, including witness tampering and mistaken identifications that can lead to evidence fabrications or police officers or prosecutors choosing to participate in perjury to warrant convictions (Duncan, 2019). Conclusion Wrongful convictions continue to take place, and many Americans will continue getting convicted over the lack of adequate evidence, false confessions, and mistaken witness

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WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS 4 identification. These convictions are a significant problem within the American judicial process, especially when victims have to undergo severe punishments such as life imprisonment or capital punishment. However, significant strides are in place when it comes to proving the innocence of wrongfully convicted individuals and allowing them to transition back to their normalcy.

WRONGLY CONVICTED VICTIMS 5 References Duncan, C. (2019). Justifying Justice: Six Factors of Wrongful Convictions and Their Solutions. Themis: Research Journal Of Justice Studies And Forensic Science, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.31979/themis.2019.0706 Innocence Project. (2020). Eyewitness Identification Reform - Innocence Project. Innocence Project. Retrieved 19 April 2021, from https://innocenceproject.org/eyewitness- identification-reform/ . LaPorte, G. (2018). Wrongful convictions and DNA exonerations: Understanding the role of forensic science. National Institute Justice (NIJ) Journal, 279.

Wrongly Convicted Victims.edited

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