The Issues

Eyewitness misidentification occurs when a witness incorrectly identifies someone as the perpetrator of a crime and is the single greatest cause of wrongful conviction in the United States. 

People who offer incentivized testimony, also commonly referred to as “jailhouse witnesses” or “jailhouse snitches,” are incarcerated individuals who offer to testify against an accused person and typically expect leniency in their own cases or other benefits for their cooperation. Such benefits can incentivize these witnesses to provide false information.

A false confession occurs when an innocent individual admits to a crime they did not commit. These confessions can range from a vague statement of guilt to a fully detailed account of the crime.

Forensic science plays a critical role in the criminal justice system. However, false testimony, exaggerated statistics, and laboratory fraud have all led to wrongful convictions.

Jurors often give forensic evidence significant weight, as this form of evidence most often comes from “experts” within the field. Due to this, when misconduct occurs, the added weight is damaging and can lead to wrongful convictions.

Official misconduct occurs when a public servant abuses their authority or fails to fulfill their legal obligations during criminal proceedings. Official misconduct can be perpetrated by police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, medical examiners, or any other public servant participating in the criminal legal process. Official misconduct not only can lead to wrongful convictions that devastate lives, but it can also undermine public trust in the criminal legal system.