Wrongful convictions or also known as error of justice occurs when an innocent person is detained or sanction due to a mistake in the criminal justice system. [1] Wrongful convictions is a problem that is growing at fast rate in our criminal justice system and it is becoming more visible every day, this has resulted in the creation of many programs and projects that try to help those who might have been sentenced wrongfully. [2] A wrongful conviction is a serious problem because it can take the life away of an innocent person for many years or it can take the life away forever for those who have received a wrongful death penalty. [2] Since each wrongful conviction case is different there are many cause that can contribute to the root of this
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[4] On July 29, 1985 Steven Avery was wrongfully convicted for the rape of Penny Ann Beernsten and was sentenced to 32 years in prison when he was only 22 years old. [4] Beernsten was running on Lake Michigan one afternoon at 3:50 p.m. when then she was taken to the woods and raped for about 15 minutes. [4] Avery fit the description that the victim gave the police and also a hair similar to the kind of hair that Avery has was found on Beernsten clothes. [4] The next day Avery was detained along with other suspects and 9 pictures of the potential rapist were shown to Beernsten, she chose Avery’s picture and he was charged with rape. [4] During the trial Avery showed evidence that on the day that the rape occurred he made a purchase at a store with his family at 5:13 p.m. about 45 miles away from where the rape took place. [4] Avery’s attorney tried to explain that his client could not have had the time to rape Beernsten at 3:50 p.m., then drive 45 miles away to pick up his family, then drive to the store and be at the store making the purchases with his family at 5:13 p.m. The jury was not convinced and Avery was found guilty. Avery began writing to the Innocence Project in 1995 and after many years of struggle in 2003 scrapings of fingernails of Beernsten that were collected on the day of the rape were DNA tested and did not show any connections to Avery but it did show connections to someone who looked similar to Avery and that has been serving a 60 year sentence for a different rap since a little after Avery was convicted. [4] Avery was release in 2003, however in 2005 Avery was convicted for a new crime of murder and was convicted to life in prison.
[4] On July 29, 1985 Steven Avery was wrongfully convicted for the rape of Penny Ann Beernsten and was sentenced to 32 years in prison when he was only 22 years old. [4] Beernsten was running on Lake Michigan one afternoon at 3:50 p.m. when then she was taken to the woods and raped for about 15 minutes. [4] Avery fit the description that the victim gave the police and also a hair similar to the kind of hair that Avery has was found on Beernsten clothes. [4] The next day Avery was detained along with other suspects and 9 pictures of the potential rapist were shown to Beernsten, she chose Avery’s picture and he was charged with rape. [4] During the trial Avery showed evidence that on the day that the rape occurred he made a purchase at a store with his family at 5:13 p.m. about 45 miles away from where the rape took place. [4] Avery’s attorney tried to explain that his client could not have had the time to rape Beernsten at 3:50 p.m., then drive 45 miles away to pick up his family, then drive to the store and be at the store making the purchases with his family at 5:13 p.m. The jury was not convinced and Avery was found guilty. Avery began writing to the Innocence Project in 1995 and after many years of struggle in 2003 scrapings of fingernails of Beernsten that were collected on the day of the rape were DNA tested and did not show any connections to Avery but it did show connections to someone who looked similar to Avery and that has been serving a 60 year sentence for a different rap since a little after Avery was convicted. [4] Avery was release in 2003, however in 2005 Avery was convicted for a new crime of murder and was convicted to life in prison.