Today during our "What Now" segment, we had a lively discussion about false convictions, and the toll they take on defendants' lives.
Nearly 900 defendants wrongfully convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. in the past 23 years spent a combined total of more than 10,000 years in prison, according to a new database called the “National Registry for Exonerations.”
It was set up by as a joint project by the University of Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. The website states the registry “maintain[s] an up to date list of all known exonerations in the United States since 1989.”
As of Monday morning, the database had detailed information on the exonerations of 873 people falsely convicted of crimes over the last 23 years. Researchers also know of nearly 1,200 other exonerations, but have less data on these.
University of Michigan law professor Samuel Gross, who is the editor of the registry, told the Associated Press, "We know there are many more that we haven't found.”
WRONGFULLY CONVICTED: "93% of the 873 exonerated defendants were men; 50% were African-American, 38% white and 11% Hispanic. The defendants each spent an average of more than 11 years behind bars."
According to an accompanying summary report, 93% of the 873 exonerated defendants were men; 50% were African-American, 38% white and 11% Hispanic. The defendants each spent an average of more than 11 years behind bars.
The report also points out that of the 873 exonerations, nearly half involved homicide cases, including 101 death sentences. 305 involved sexual assaults. DNA evidence helped in part to clear 37% of the cases.
Researchers also write, “There is no official record keeping system for exonerations,” but believe “the existence of the National Registry will generate better information.”
For more on the exonerations database and our panel's reaction, check out the full "What Now" segment embedded above ("Falsely Convicted" follows the "Notre Dame Lawsuit" discussion).
Leave a Comment:
That's 50% of black men with 2nd and 3rd citizenship, out of competition for good paying jobs, education, and citizenship. The wicked master plan continues.
A modest estimation is that one per cent or 20,000 people in the US prison population is wrongfully convicted. That amount exonerated over 23 years is nothing to pat ourselves on the back about! In many cases, the truth could be found usin...g a $30.00 test! Unfortunately, the cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars for legal permission to allow the truth to be sought! Nobody should be excused from allowing these horrific injustices to continue. Happy for the few that have been helped but devastated for the many waiting for a chance to prove their truth! FREEPAULCORTEZ.ORG
ALEC helped pioneer some of the toughest sentencing laws on the books today, “truth in sentencing” laws. In 1995 alone, ALEC’s Truth in Sentencing Act was signed into law in twenty-five states. (Then State Rep. Scott Walker was an ALEC member when he sponsored Wisconsin’s truth-in-sentencing laws and, according to PR Watch, used its statistics to make the case for the law.) This forced Wisconsin to build new or rebuild 71 county jails 71 courthouses and dozens of prisons. This also forced Wisconsin to build or remodel 238 police stations. This also forced Wisconsin to buy or lease several hundred halfway houses etc. This also forced Wisconsin into hiring some 30,000 plus public sector workers to work at these places. Every time Scott walker says he is for small government and talks about the budget. remember who caused the budget problems and huge government in Wisconsin. He is for small government like George Bush was. He hires millions in the name of Homeland security. Vote Conservative and for small government. Vote out Scott Walker. Can we afford his tax and waste ideals and huge government? If not for Walker and Alec Wisconsin would have tens of billions in surplus. We could get tax refunds again. Lets blame the real reason for budget problems. “Scott Walker”.
As we all know this ended liberty and justice for all in Wisconsin. It has made our justice systems get rich quick schemes. As long as pla baragaining /legalized extortion is allowed. the wrongful conviction swill stay at 90% or more. 90% are extorted not convicted.