Wrongful Convictions
Way too many innocent people have been put behind bars for absolutely doing nothing. Some people are just at the wrong places at the wrong time but others are framed. In this essay I will talk about a case that put an innocent man behind bars. Eyewitness Misidentification, bad lawyering and Government Misconduct all lead to his demise. These three things are reasons why an innocent person can end up behind bars for nothing. It bothers me because this could happen to anyone, to me, a family member, and even friends. These problems need to be fixed but I’m afraid they might not ever be. If I could change certain things the rate of wrongful convictions would drop tremendously.
Eyewitness Misidentification alone is the greatest cause of wrongful convictions nationwide, playing a role in 72% of convictions. It’s unbelievable because research shows that memory is malleable and that an eye witness who is uncertain, can become much more certain over time. I also learned that when an eyewitness identifies a suspect it’s possible the police unconsciously provides information to them. Officers also try and use one suspect in multiple procedures with the eyewitness and that will increase the witness’s confidence to …show more content…
It would be different if he was actually a killer but that’s not the case for him. Hunt’s life will never be the same. Hunts relationship with close relatives, and friends were destroyed. 19 years of his life was taken away from him for nothing. He was released on forensic DNA. In 2011 there was a book “Making Justice Our Business: The Wrongful Conviction of Darryl Hunt and the Work of Faith” by Stephen B. Boyd. The book goes into further detail about his time spent in prison his exoneration, and his supporters that never lost faith in his innocence. In Hunts own words he said “My story needs to be told, and heard all over” (Hunt). Hunt is right people need to know what happened to
Eyewitness Misidentification alone is the greatest cause of wrongful convictions nationwide, playing a role in 72% of convictions. It’s unbelievable because research shows that memory is malleable and that an eye witness who is uncertain, can become much more certain over time. I also learned that when an eyewitness identifies a suspect it’s possible the police unconsciously provides information to them. Officers also try and use one suspect in multiple procedures with the eyewitness and that will increase the witness’s confidence to …show more content…
It would be different if he was actually a killer but that’s not the case for him. Hunt’s life will never be the same. Hunts relationship with close relatives, and friends were destroyed. 19 years of his life was taken away from him for nothing. He was released on forensic DNA. In 2011 there was a book “Making Justice Our Business: The Wrongful Conviction of Darryl Hunt and the Work of Faith” by Stephen B. Boyd. The book goes into further detail about his time spent in prison his exoneration, and his supporters that never lost faith in his innocence. In Hunts own words he said “My story needs to be told, and heard all over” (Hunt). Hunt is right people need to know what happened to