Prevent Wrongful Convictions in the United States
Imagine spending 30 years in jail for doing nothing. It seems impossible, surely the justice system of the United States is better than that. For Lawrence McKinney, it is very possible. McKinney spend 31 years in jail, only receiving a 75 dollar check when he was released, after being proved innocent (Powell). Many more cases just like McKinney’s happen all the time. Court systems have many layers, each one of them trying to filter out the innocent, but it is not enough. Something has to be done to stop the number of wrongfully convicted individuals from rising, and release all of the innocent citizens already in jail. DNA evidence can be unreliable and easily tampered with. DNA can become contaminated at a crime scene, or in a lab. This occurs when procedures are not followed correctly, or when the DNA is exposed to harsh conditions. Direct sunlight and moisture causes DNA to degrade, making it unusable. “When there are problems with DNA collection and analysis, the consequences can be severe. Mistakes can, and have, led to wrongful convictions.” A solution to this issue was to use “touch DNA”, …show more content…
A vulnerable defendant, people that may be, or have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can have a loss of memory. Police sometimes use false evidence to fill in the gaps of blackouts. Some individuals may even become convinced that they truly committed the act. Children, people with minor or severe mental illness, and elderly can be considered offenders. When brought into questioning, people who fall into these categories can be easily subjected to memory loss, or forgetfulness. After hours of questioning, some people may get tired and just admit to a crime so the interrogation will end (Perina 11). When a person truly believes that they committed a crime, they will almost always confess, even if they are
Imagine spending 30 years in jail for doing nothing. It seems impossible, surely the justice system of the United States is better than that. For Lawrence McKinney, it is very possible. McKinney spend 31 years in jail, only receiving a 75 dollar check when he was released, after being proved innocent (Powell). Many more cases just like McKinney’s happen all the time. Court systems have many layers, each one of them trying to filter out the innocent, but it is not enough. Something has to be done to stop the number of wrongfully convicted individuals from rising, and release all of the innocent citizens already in jail. DNA evidence can be unreliable and easily tampered with. DNA can become contaminated at a crime scene, or in a lab. This occurs when procedures are not followed correctly, or when the DNA is exposed to harsh conditions. Direct sunlight and moisture causes DNA to degrade, making it unusable. “When there are problems with DNA collection and analysis, the consequences can be severe. Mistakes can, and have, led to wrongful convictions.” A solution to this issue was to use “touch DNA”, …show more content…
A vulnerable defendant, people that may be, or have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can have a loss of memory. Police sometimes use false evidence to fill in the gaps of blackouts. Some individuals may even become convinced that they truly committed the act. Children, people with minor or severe mental illness, and elderly can be considered offenders. When brought into questioning, people who fall into these categories can be easily subjected to memory loss, or forgetfulness. After hours of questioning, some people may get tired and just admit to a crime so the interrogation will end (Perina 11). When a person truly believes that they committed a crime, they will almost always confess, even if they are