Week One - Introduction

Question 1

The Innocence Project statistics?

Answer 1

367 exonerations

• mostly based on DNA ev
• Real perp caught approx 50% of time
• 70% hispanic/black
• av 14 years in prison
• 21 released from death row

Question 2

Is DNA a safe guard?

Answer 2

Not really
Only really available in certain cases (eg rape)
- no good estimates for error rates in the comparisons used in DNA testing

Question 3

Causes of false imprisonment?

Answer 3

Eyewitness misidentification

False admissions/confessions (WHY? - interviewing techniques and psych factors)

Problems with forensic science (error, biases, unethical, communicating/interpreting results, techniques)

Poor legal representation

Question 4

Jimmy Ray Bromgard case?

Answer 4

Rape (40 yrs) - exonerated 2002: 14 yrs later

Evidence: Matching hair (1/10,000 chance - fake as we can’t truly see this), eyewitness ID (not too sure), chequebook.

Defense:

• Did not hire forensic expert
• Did not file motion to -suppress dodgy ID evidence
• No investigation of facts
• No opening/closing statements
• No appeals