A Prescription for Criminal Justice: Embrace Errors, Then Fix Them
A sampling of the many achievable reforms now being used to help avoid wrongful convictions
Why Can’t Law Enforcement Admit They Blow It Sometimes?
Because police, detectives and forensic scientists are only human, and it's all-too natural to be inexplicably reluctant to admit to – or even to see – some of their mistakes.
Seeking Second Chances Without DNA
DNA testing has overturned many wrongful convictions but the vast majority of criminal cases have no DNA to test. And some of those inmates’ convictions are also flawed.
The Right and Privilege of Post-Conviction DNA Testing
Almost half the DNA tests conducted at prisoners’ request confirm guilt. Yet many believe that the exceptions more than justify making post-conviction testing widely accessible. And what is often fair or prudent is for Death Row inmates essential.
Litigating Lineups: Why the American Justice System Is Keeping a Close Eye on Witness Identification
The single biggest cause of wrongful convictions is mistaken eyewitness identification. Is there a better way to find the right perpetrator?
Why Fingerprints Aren’t the Proof We Thought They Were
Fingerprint matching is a vital investigative tool. But despite its legendary aura of infallibility, courtroom claims of fingerprints’ uniqueness are slowly receding.
Human Lie Detectors: The Death of the Dead Giveaway
Amateurs and experts alike overestimate their ability to divine truth and deception. But when criminal investigators do it, it can be very bad news for the accused.
Red Flags: Early Warnings of Wrongful Convictions
Experts find recurring themes in wrongful convictions. And while some jurisdictions are now creating in-house review units to ensure convictions are righteous, commonly repeated mistakes continue to mar cases.
A Porn Stash and a False Confession: How to Ruin Someone’s Life in the American Justice System
John Watkins' stash of pornography made him a look like a prime suspect for a rape in police and prosecutors' eyes. How they wrung a confession out of him and convinced a shaky witness to ID him offers textbook examples of how to achieve a wrongful conviction.
When Extreme Animal Rights Activists Attack
Lawmakers, researchers, and peaceful activists all say they deplore violence committed in the name of animal rights. But laws that may label some protesters as “domestic terrorists” are upsetting activists.