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Miguel Roman Jailhouse Arguments

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A record 149 people were exonerated for crimes they did not commit in 2015. How were these people convicted for these crimes? Three ways innocent people are convicted is from prosecution screw ups, Jailhouse informants testifying against innocent people, and a lack of technology to test DNA. In the case of Miguel Roman, the prosecution made many mistakes in their argument against Roman. The prosecution knew it wasn’t Miguel’s DNA on Lopez yet they still convicted Miguel (Owens and Dempsey). This show how the prosecution disregarded the DNA evidence at the time of the investigation. Secondly, the prosecution believed the fetus inside the victim was Roman’s but after DNA testing they found it was not his (Owens and Dempsey). The authors …show more content…

Another prisoner at the jail said Miguel confessed to him and he testified for a reduced sentence (Cameron). This shows the prisoner lied to get a reduced sentence. 15% of wrongful convictions had another prisoner confessed against the victim (Cameron). The author states this to show how prisoners will lie for reduced sentences and plea deals. In the modern era of the death penalty, Around half of the death row inmates who have been wrongfully convicted have been convicted by prison informants (Balko). This shows prisoners disregard of innocent people’s lives for their …show more content…

Works Cited Balko, Radley. “End the Use of Jailhouse Informants.” Washington Pose [Washington D.C.], 8 May 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/05/08/end-the-use-of-jailhouse-informants/?utm_term=.0d794e3729b8. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017. Cameron, David R. “Man Freed by DNA Deserves Compensation.” Hartford Courant [Hartford], 26 July 2011. ProQuest Newsstand. Accessed 27 Jan. 2017. Ferner, Matt. “A Record Number of People Were Exonerated in 2015 for Crimes They Didn’t Commit.” Huffington Post, 3 Feb. 2014, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/exonerations-2015_us_56ac0374e4b00b033aaf3da9. Accessed 7 Feb. 2017. Owens, David, and Christine Dempsey. “Miguel Roman Gains His Freedom After 20 Years In Prison.” McClatchy - Tribune Business News [Washington], 20 Dec. 2008. ProQuest Newsstand. Accessed 27 Jan. 2017. ---. “Stepping into Freedom: After 20 Years in Prison, Roman Is Allowed to Go Home; Innocence Project.” Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2008. ProQuest Newsstand. Accessed 27 Jan.

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