posted by Justice on Sep 10
A new state law takes effect in Texas this week compensating the exonerated with $80,000 for each year they spent in prison.
New Texas Compensation Law Takes Effect
A new state law takes effect in Texas this week compensating the exonerated with $80,000 for each year they spent in prison. The bill also includes services such as job training, tuition credits and access to medical and dental treatment, and it compensates the exonerated both for time spent in prison and for time on parole (at a rate of $25,000 per year). Although Texas is one of 27 states with an exoneree compensation law, no other state provides this level of social services or compensates the exonerated for years on parole (often as registered sex offenders).
Thomas McGowan, who met recently with the victim in his case who misidentified him and the lead officer in the investigation, said he is looking forward to receiving compensation to help him rebuild his life.
“I'm nervous and excited,” said McGowan, 50. “It's something I never had, this amount of money. I didn't have any money – period.”
Read the full story. (Associated Press, 9/4/09)
Tags: Innocence Project, , pro bono
posted by Justice on Sep 10
Watch online tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST as Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld testifies before the U.S
Watch Live: Senate Judiciary Hearing on Forensic Reform
Watch online tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST as Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld testifies before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the need for a National Institute of Forensic Science. He will be joined by Law Professor Paul Giannelli, Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, a lab director and two prosecutors.
Visit this link at 10 a.m. EST to watch live.
The Innocence Project has called for the creation of an independent federal agency to support and oversee forensic science practices across the country. Learn more and voice your support for forensic reform at the Just Science Coalition website.
Tags: Layla D’monte, injustice, Barrister
posted by Justice on Mar 19
A new law review article by Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld and University of Virginia Law Professor Brandon Garrett finds that forensic analysts often overstated evidence in wrongful conviction cases. The pair spent over a year reviewing 137 DNA exoneration cases in which a forensic analyst testified at trial, and found that in 60 percent of these cases, the forensic expert gave invalid testimony. Watch a video with Garrett discussing the paper, and download the full Virginia Law Review paper
New Study on Forensics and Wrongful Conviction
A new law review article by Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld and University of Virginia Law Professor Brandon Garrett finds that forensic analysts often overstated evidence in wrongful conviction cases. The pair spent over a year reviewing 137 DNA exoneration cases in which a forensic analyst testified at trial, and found that in 60 percent of these cases, the forensic expert gave invalid testimony.
Watch a video with Garrett discussing the paper, and download the full Virginia Law Review paper.
While conducting the research for this paper, both Garrett and Neufeld testified before the National Academy of Sciences committee that recently released a report on the need for forensic reform in the United States. The NAS report called for a new federal agency to oversee and support forensic sciences in order for the disciplines to play a more reliable role in the American court system.
The Innocence Project also recently completed a review of the role of forensic science in wrongful convictions. The review went beyond transcripts of testimony to analyze all forensic science evidence used in the cases, and found that in more than 50% of the first 225 DNA exonerations, unvalidated or improper forensics played a role in the wrongful conviction. Learn more about the Innocence Project study here. (PDF)
Garrett said studies like these are rare, despite the fact that the systematic review of wrongful conviction cases can reveal a great deal about the causes of wrongful conviction.
“These trial transcripts were fascinating to read, because in retrospect we know that all of the defendants were innocent,” he said. “Yet few have looked at these records. Even after these wrongful convictions came to light, crime laboratories rarely conducted audits or investigations to review the forensic evidence presented at the trial.”
Tags: Miscarriage of Justice, Barrister, Layla D’monte
