Wrongful Conviction Resources
Organizations, research, and reporting on wrongful convictions.
Can Legal Reform Happen?
Can we reform our legal system when politicians refuse to discuss the real issues. The only time politicians, judges or DA’s seem to mention our legal system is when they…
Handwriting Cases Under Review
This story first appeared in the Oregonian. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — More than 30 Oregon criminal cases are under external review to determine if investigations were tainted by handwriting analysts emplo
Community Courts
“We go to the root of the problems rather than just throwing them in jail,” said the Community Justice Center’s lone judge, Lillian Sing. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/23/4846508/novel
Crime Lab Creates Chaos
Chemist Annie Dookhan is accused of tampering with with drug and blood samples to make them weigh more or test positive. Details are still emerging about the mishandled evidence in as…
Who’s Buying Our Courts?
In the 39 states where judicial elections are held, judges running for re-election have spent 4 times the amount of television ads than was spent just two years ago. Hundreds…
Bipartisanship in Legal Reform
Politicians and policy makers are finally beginning to discuss reforming the legal system. For some the issue is the fact that the US imprisons its citizens at a rate that is…
What Is A Just and Fair Sentence?
In Norway, a mass murderer was recently sentenced to 21 years in prison. Norway uses a restorative sentencing model emphasizing healing for the victims, society and the convicted criminal. In the Unit
Will DNA Prove Bite Marks Wrong?
The faulty forensic science of bite marks helped incarcerate Doug Prade, a former police captain from Ohio. It has taken 14 years before DNA evidence may help prove the evidence…
No More Extreme Sentences For California Youth
The California assembly recently passed a bill giving juvenile offenders serving life terms possible freedom. According to the senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, “They are more…
Reforming Arson Investigations
The Innocence Project and the Texas State Fire Marshall’s Office are reviewing arson cases in which someone was convicted of a crime. As of now there are about 900 people…
Predictive Policing
Law enforcement agencies are beginning to use predictive policing to stop crimes before they happen. Behavior scientists have teamed up with law enforcement and IBM to create computer programs that…
Pennsylvania Prison Reform
We are now seeing a whole new direction for housing non-violent offenders due to the cost of incarceration and difficulties with state budgets.. Pennsylvania’s Criminal Justice Reform act will save…