This week, Freddie Peacock became the 250th person in the country exonerated through DNA testing after serving years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The cases of the 250 DNA exonerees are merely the tip of the iceberg, since DNA testing is possible in just a tiny fraction of cases. These exonerations show us how the criminal justice system is flawed, and how it can be fixed.
Wrongful convictions have been overturned through DNA testing in 33 states, but countless innocent people remain behind bars in the United States today. Three-quarters of the wrongful convictions overturned by DNA involved eyewitness misidentification; half relied on faulty forensic science; and a quarter involved false confessions or admissions. All of these errors can and must be prevented.
Here at SaveAPrisoner.org, we strive to support prisoners who sometimes serve up to the rest of their lives in prison. Check out our Web site and consider contributing today. You just might be giving money to a wrongfully convicted man or woman.
Even with the help of DNA to prove your innocence you can never get those years back, and trying to get your life back on track while having to deal with those who believe you were guilty and having to explain what happen to a employer during a job interview as you try to overcome the nightmare.
I'm in favor of the death penalty and I'm aware of the cost it is to all us as they go through the appeals process over the years, but before we as a society put someone to death, we must be 100% certain that this person is truly guilty.If it takes 20 years so be it. Just get it right so there no doubt that justice was served to the criminal and to the memory of the victim and their survivors.