NCJ Number
204687
Journal
Judicature Volume: 87 Issue: 4 Dated: January-February 2004 Pages: 163-165
Date Published
January 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the need to deal with the problem of wrongful conviction.
Abstract
The National Conference on Preventing the Conviction of Innocent Persons was held January 16-19, 2003, in Washington, DC. The opening remarks were delivered by Janet Reno. In 30 years more than 100 people have been exonerated because of DNA or other true tests. It is important to deal with the problem of wrongful conviction because of the human costs, but also because the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system will erode. The issues to deal with are eyewitness identification and its weaknesses; lineups and how they can be improved; discovery and depositions; dollars for indigent representation; training; and how to learn from previous mistakes. Most of these focus on dollars; yet State budgets are now in a crisis. This requires States to be innovative and creative in the investment of dollars. Solid data are required to make the system work. The culture needs to be changed. Law students must be made aware of how cases of exoneration have occurred and what could have been done to prevent it. The university system must begin to focus on the truth as an ultimate goal and bring together the different disciplines of law, medicine, science, communication, and service to achieve the truth.