Since her initial acquittal in Italy and return to the US in 2011, Amanda Knox has never returned to Italy. She has remained busy getting along with her life, writing, and in supporting movements dedicated to the pursuit of true justice. Until now.
We wrote about the facts of her case on this blog in 2012 here.
She returned to Italy this past week to speak at the Festival on Criminal Justice sponsored by the Italy Innocence Project in Modena, Italy.
See the CNN story about her return here.
Today, Oct. 2, is Wrongful Conviction Day — the annual international observance dedicated to ending wrongful convictions and highlighting the plight of those convicted of crimes they did not commit.
This year, Wrongful Conviction Day is highlighting the role that racial bias plays in wrongful convictions and the efforts to fix the criminal justice system in its entirety. Created by the Innocence Network in 2014, Wrongful Conviction Day aims to raise awareness of the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction and to recognize the tremendous personal, social and emotional costs of wrongful conviction for innocent people and their families.
“Wrongful Conviction Day is not only part of a movement, it is also always a personal day for everyone who works on behalf of the Ohio Innocence Project,” says Mark Godsey, the OIP’s co-founder and director. Continue reading
Posted in Events, Exonerations, Wrongful Conviction Day
Posted in Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Conviction Integrity Units, Editorials/Opinion, Events, Exonerations, forensic science, Political cases, Post-conviction relief, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad), Reforming/Improving the system, Uncategorized, wrongful conviction
Tagged compensation, Conviction Integrity Unit, fingerprint analysis, forensic science, Guilty Plea, Guilty Plea Problem, Innocence Project, Jeff Sessions, junk science, overturned conviction, wrongful conviction
We have reported extensively on the Courtney Bisbee case here on the blog.
Please see: HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE .
In my 8 1/2 years of doing this work, this is one of the worst travesties of justice I have encountered. And it all took place in that snake pit cesspool of a justice system called Maricopa County, AZ.
Courtney served her full sentence (11 years), and was released from prison on November 17. But she is NOT free. One would think that once you’ve served your full sentence and were released, that would be it; and you should be able to start rebuilding your shattered life, albeit with a prison record, but NO.
Courtney has been fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet, and registered as a sex offender - a life sentence. And get this - she is not even on probation; she’s on parole (“community supervision”) with harsh conditions, just like she’s still considered a prisoner. And indeed, she is still under the custody of the Department of Corrections, which limits her ability to take any kind of legal action. AND THIS IS ALL FOR A “CRIME” THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
Courtney’s habeas petition is still pending before federal court, as it has been since 2012. We can only hope that true justice will ultimately be done.
We’re thrilled that at least Courtney is out of prison, and is being allowed to live with her parents as she works mightily to start putting the pieces back together.
Posted in Editorials/Opinion, Events, Exonerations, Film/Cinema, Junk science, Reforming/Improving the system, Uncategorized, wrongful conviction, Wrongful Conviction Day, Wrongfully Convicted Women
Tagged Amanda Knox, Conviction, DNA, exoneration, International Wrongful Conviction Day, wrongful conviction, Wrongful Conviction Day
We had hope, back in 2009, when the National Academy of Sciences report Forensic Science in the United States; A Path Forward was published, that there might finally be some remedy for all the junk science being used to convict innocent people. The report painted a scathing picture of the lack of true science contained in, and the invalidity of, traditional forensic disciplines; the sole exception being DNA. The report did spawn the creation of the Federal Commission on Forensic Science, which has proven, over the last three years, to be a totally toothless tiger, accomplishing essentially nothing.
Now recently, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology has issued an additional report that is highly condemning of current forensic practices. You can see the PCAST report here: pcast_forensic_science_report_final
HOWEVER, even in light of this recent report, both the FBI and the Department of Justice have stated they have no intention of changing the way they currently address forensics.
Please see the Intercept article, FBI AND DOJ VOW TO CONTINUE USING JUNK SCIENCE REJECTED BY WHITE HOUSE REPORT, by Jordan Smith here.
Next week, OIP-u-The Ohio Innocence Project’s undergraduate advocate network-will be hosting screenings of the award winning documentary The Syndrome at separate events across the state of Ohio. After each screening there will be a Q&A session with investigative journalist Susan Goldsmith who produced the film and Kathy Hyatt whose story is featured in the film. Admission is free, no registration required, 1 Credit CLE for Ohio and 2 CLE credits for Kentucky. See below for screening times and locations.
About The Syndrome:
Director Meryl Goldsmith teams with Award-winning investigative reporter Susan Goldsmith to uncover the origins of the myth of SBS and t
he unimaginable nightmare for those accused. This provocative film strives to shine a light on the men and women dedicating their lives to defending the prosecuted and freeing the convicted. Taking a look at what is truly happening behind the curtain, The Syndrome has been called “an eye-opening hybrid of medical drama & courtroom thriller” and prompts one to wonder – what would happen if I faced the same fate?
The Syndrome is an explosive documentary following the crusade of a group of doctors, scientists, and legal scholars who have uncovered that “shaken baby syndrome,” a child abuse theory used in hundreds of US prosecutions each year, doesn’t exist.
To view the trailer for the film click here
Event dates, times and locations:
March 28, 2016 – Cincinnati, OH University of Cincinnati College of Law College of Law, Room 114 • 5:30-8 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u University of Cincinnati Chapter
March 29, 2016 – Cincinnati, OH Xavier University Cintas Center, Conference Room 4/5 • Noon-2:30 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u Xavier University Chapter
March 29, 2016 – Dayton, OH University of Dayton Miriam Hall, Room 119 • 5:30-8 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u University of Dayton Chapter
March 30, 2016 – Columbus, OH Ohio State University Saxbe Auditorium • 6-8:30 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u Ohio State University Chapter
March 31, 2016 – Cleveland, OH John Carroll University Dolan Center, Room 202/203 • 6-8:30 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u John Carroll University Chapter
April 1, 2016 – Athens, OH Ohio University Schoonover Hall, Room 145 • 5-7:30 p.m. Hosted by OIP-u Ohio University Chapter
Posted in Events, Film/Cinema, Uncategorized
Tagged Kathy Hyatt, Meryl Goldsmith, OIP-u, shaken baby syndrome, Susan Goldsmith, The Syndrome
Anyone who has followed my stuff on this blog even casually knows that, because of their behavior, deeds, and actions, prosecutors are not my favorite group of people. And topping my list of least favorite prosecutors has always been Anita Alvarez, Cook County (Chicago) State’s Attorney. There are lots of reasons for this, many of which are detailed below in Chicago Tribune articles by Eric Zorn. I won’t detail my own opinions about her here so as not to become the defendant in a specious libel suit.
Most recently Alvarez came under fire for her handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting by Chicago police, and this seems to have been “the straw” that broke the voters’ backs. However, it’s really about much more than just her handling of that case. It’s about years and years of the blatant abuse of prosecutorial power.
In yesterday’s democratic primary in Cook County, challenger Kim Foxx defeated Alvarez by more than a 2-to-1 vote margin. The people have spoken.
See the ThinkProgress story here.
And for more from Eric Zorn at the Chicago Tribune ……..
Posted in Events, wrongful conviction
Posted in Asia, Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Events, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad), Wrongful Conviction Day
Tagged compensation, exoneree compensation, International Wrongful Conviction Day, miscarriage of justice, new evidence, new trial, prosecutorial misconduct, wrongful conviction compensation, Wrongful Conviction Day
Last Saturday Ohio Exoneree Ricky Jackson participated in a TEDxMET performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Ricky spoke about his love for art, one that developed when he was a child and helped him endure 39 years of wrongful incarceration. The audience was visibly moved by Ricky’s words which were met with a standing ovation.
Limor Tomer, the General Manager of Concerts & Lectures at the Metropolitan Art Museum, had the following to say about Ricky’s performance:
Yesterday Ricky inspired, touched, moved and brought the house down at TEDxMET. His depth, humility, intelligence, perceptiveness, heart and soul shone through and touched everyone very deeply.
Click here to view Ricky’s 12 minute segment via the Met’s website. You can view all of the TEDxMET participants here.
Posted in Events, wrongful conviction
Tagged Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ricky Jackson, wrongful conviction
CAPTURING THE REALITY OF AMERICA’S EXTREME SENTENCING POLICIES AT A CALIFORNIA MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON, DEBUTS AUG. 3 ON HBO
More Than 50,000 Americans, Consisting of Men, Women And Juveniles, Are Currently Sentenced To Life Without The Possibility Of Parole - America is the most punitive nation in the world, handing out historically harsh sentences that largely dispense with the concept of rehabilitation.
Alan and Susan Raymond (Oscar® and Emmy® winners for HBO’s “I Am a Promise:The Children of Stanton Elementary School”) explore the reality of “the other death penalty” in TOE TAG PAROLE: TO LIVE AND DIE ON YARD A, debuting MONDAY, AUG. 3 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: Aug. 3 (5:05 a.m.), 6 (4:15 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 7 (8:00 a.m.), 9 (3:00 p.m.) 11 (3:00 p.m.) and 15 (10:00 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Aug. 12 (8:00 p.m.), 20 (12:30 a.m.), 23 (9:05 a.m.) and 25 (12:45 p.m.)
Featuring exclusive, unprecedented access, TOE TAG PAROLE: TO LIVE AND DIE ON YARD A was shot entirely at California State Prison, Los Angeles County, a maximum-security facility in the Mojave Desert.
Wisconsin Innocence Project client Dan Scheidell’s 1995 conviction for sexual assault was vacated last week after DNA evidence implicated another individual…
Texas exoneree Anthony Graves who spent 12 years on death row before being exonerated in 2006, has been appointed to the board of directors for the Houston Forensic Science Center…
Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and many others attended and spoke at the first International Innocence Conference held in Dublin, Ireland last weekend…
A Michigan man has been cleared of a 1992 rape after serving 17 years in prison for the crime…
According to LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey, Conviction Integrity Units are needed in order to preserve the integrity of prosecutor’s offices across the country…
Posted in Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Conviction Integrity Units, Editorials/Opinion, Events, Exonerations, Inquisitional and adversarial systems of justice, wrongful conviction
Tagged Anthony Graves, compensation, Conviction Integrity Unit, Dan Scheidell, DNA, International Innocence Conference, Irish Innocence Project, Mary McAleese, sexual assault, vacated, Wisconsin Innocence Project, wrongful conviction
This past Wednesday, I was privileged to be present when Ricky Jackson addressed a group of people at the University of Cincinnati. In November, 2014, Ricky, along with two of his boyhood friends, the Bridgeman brothers, was exonerated of a murder he did not commit, and for which he spent 39 years in prison, including 2 1/2 years on death row. See the previous WCB coverage of this here. I was so moved, that I felt compelled to write about my impressions.
Ricky spoke at some length about his experiences, his feelings about it all, and his perspectives and future plans. I must say he is eloquent, articulate, intelligent, compassionate, humorous, and possessed of humility. He is the kind of person I would be honored to call a friend.
I won’t try to relate the details of his case or his experiences. For that, please check the link cited above, and the links within that article. But know that I sat there in wonder as he spoke about all this without the slightest trace of anger, resentment, or bitterness. How a person can endure what he did, and come out of it with his attitude and perspective is just about incomprehensible to me.
I have to wonder also what this man might have accomplished during those 39 years had he not been in prison. Those 39 years were stolen not just from Ricky Jackson, but from us - all of us - because this is a man who clearly has the ability to have a positive influence on other people and on society as a whole. I’m sure Ricky has very definite knowledge of what this has cost him, but we’ll never know what this has cost us. And on top of that . . . the real murderers are still out there.
And of course, this begs the question - how many more Ricky Jackson’s are there still in prison in this country?
Posted in Capital punishment, Editorials/Opinion, Events
Sorry for the lack of posting this week. We have all been down at the Innocence Network conference in Orlando. Here is the schedule and other details:
Posted in Events
Posted in Events, Forensic controls, Junk science
Order Here
Wrongful Convictions Blog 