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Wrong Convictions Spur Florida to Rethink Using Jail Informants
After the release of a man that was wrongfully convicted of a murder, Florida’s Innocence Commission is rethinking the use of jailhouse informants in their felony cases. The man, Chad Heins, spent 11 years in prison for a murder he was innocent of — his conviction was almost solely based on the
Injustice in Murder Cases
According to a new study recently published by the RAND Corporation, just providing an indigent defendant a lawyer is not enough to “obtain justice”. The issues that directly affect the outcome include: whether the lawyer assigned is screened for quality, whether they are trained to handle the client’s type of case,
Prosecutorial Misconduct and a DNA Exoneration in Texas
After spending 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Michael Morton was exonerated last month in Texas through the use of DNA evidence. In their attempt to prove Mr. Morton’s innocence, attorneys found evidence in court records that the prosecutor from his original trial had withheld critical evidence
The Arizona Justice Project is Appearing Before the U.S. Supreme Court
Bob Bartels, faculty advisor for the Arizona Justice Project, takes the important issue of post-conviction review to the United States Supreme Court. – Question Presented: Whether a defendant in a state criminal case – who cannot raise an ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim (IATC) on direct appeal but must
Understanding the Causes of Wrongful Convictions
Below, you’ll find an interactive resource courtesy of the Innocence Project in New York about the causes of wrongful convictions: The Innocence Project has also released a chart on the DNA exonerations that have occurred throughout the nation in which convictions were obtained involving unvalidated or improper forensic testing. Read more about 166
New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision Mandating Major Changes in the Way Courts Handle Identification Procedures
Relying on Scientific Research on Memory and Identification, Court Says Standard Set by U.S. Supreme Court 30 Years Ago Must Be Revised Contact: Paul Cates, 212-364-5346, cell 917-566-1294, pcates@innocenceproject.org (Trenton, NJ – August 24, 2011) — Today the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a landmark decision requiring major changes in
Articles
New York Times: Governor Rebuffs Clemency Board in Murder Case
Ronald Kempfert was a young boy in 1975 when his father was sent to prison for murder, and they had no contact for 28 years. Then, in 2003, Mr. Kempfert heard from a lawyer who had been looking into the case. “Your father is innocent,” said the lawyer, Larry A.
Rockford Man Fights to Get his Brother out of Arizona Prison
An Arizona man with Rockford ties is still in prison for a crime the Clemency Review Board there says he didn’t commit. William Macumber was sent to prison in 1975, part of his family lives in Rockford now and is fighting for his release. Read More
Leveling the playing field for killers
E.J. Montini with the Arizona Republic has a column regarding murderers who were convicted prior to 1973. Before you get all worked up about a proposed law that could benefit 29 convicted killers in Arizona there are three things you should know about it. First, it saves money. Second, it
New Book “True Stories of False Confessions” Contains Accounts of Some of the Most Critical Accounts of False Confessions
In True Stories of False Confessions, Rob Warden and Steve Drizin of the Center on Wrongful Convictions present 39 compelling accounts of false confessions—articles adapted from newspapers, magazines, and books by distinguished writers, including Sydney Schanberg, Alex Kotlowitz, and John Grisham. Read More
The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest Honors The Justice Project
The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest honored The Justice Project on May 9, 2009, for providing pro bono representation to indigent Arizona inmates with claims of wrongful conviction. Larry Hammond, Bob Bartels, Andy Silverman, Donna Toland, and Carrie Sperling received the special honor for their dedication to
Interview with Former Executive Director Carrie Sperling
Hear from former executive director, Carrie Sperling, in her interview with Ed Garcia and Jessica Roberts