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One of the tenets of the American justice system is the swift carriage of justice and a trial by a jury of one’s peers. In theory, this should make for a reasonable system where individuals are given an opportunity to defend themselves and make their case in court. Unfortunately, for many people of color in America, the justice system has proven to be anything but just.
Wrongfully accused individuals are often incarcerated for decades before an appeal can be heard, assuming they can afford to get a lawyer interested in their case. Mark Godsey is the director and co-founder of The Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. The OIP harnesses the energies and intellect of law students to identify inmates in Ohio prisons who are innocent of the crimes they are convicted of.
Innocence can be determined by DNA testing but can include other types of new evidence such as witnesses, new expert testimony, new evidence or proof of police misconduct. The OIP has freed over 250 wrongfully convicted inmates and has helped over 20 individuals who had been incarcerated for decades or longer. Godsey has recently published a book on his experiences working with the Innocence Project called Blind Justice.
While statistically the number of false convictions is considered to be very low given the number of felonies in a single year, the values are skewed toward murder and rape cases which get more attention, particularly post-conviction if an inmate claims they have been wrongfully accused.
However, the bulk of felony cases, as high as 95%, instead of going to trial, the convictions are the result of plea bargaining with no formal evidence ever presented, and most clients don’t bother with an appeal. The Innocence Project engages in a heroic effort helping people who have been wrongfully harmed by the judicial system and have little avenue for recourse.
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What do you think of the American legal system and the results of its application on citizens?
Have you any significant experience with the judicial system? Did you feel adequately represented? Were you forced into a plea bargain? What were the results?
Have you had any experience with the Innocence Project?
When you’re ready to submit, click the red box, below.
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