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Wrongful Conviction: Dookhan Case Study

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Convictions
In this case, Dookhan cases appear to account for a mind-boggling 25 percent of all of the drug litigation that led to convicting in the seven constituency that uses the Hinton State Lab during Dookhan’s incumbency. Yet, Dookhan was let go on parole only because this was the first time prosecutors ad the list of all the defendants affected by the case. Annie Dookhan was convicted on drug charges from fabricating thousands of test results. For someone to face such a light sentence for ruining countless lives with falsification of many different evidences is seen as a disgrace. Falsification of evidence leads straight to convictions but there are many other ways one can become convicted in our criminal justice system(Lithwick,2016). …show more content…

This only can happen when the defendant is proven guilty of the crime or crimes charged to the extent that no person could have reasonable suspension that the defendant is guilty. It is sad to say that there are many reasons for multiple cause of wrongful convictions. In some cases there are eyewitness mis-identification, junk science, false confessions, government misconduct, snitches, and bad lawyering as well. Eye witness mis-identification is one of the most cause of wrongful convictions world wide. Witnesses tend to remember the evidence like its a crime scene, instead of a play back from a …show more content…

Sentencing for a crooked offenses can range from community service and probation, even leading up to the death penalty. There are things called the “three strikes” sentencing laws, state-specific guidelines, mandatory minimum sentences, etc... Sentencing in the court system takes place straight after the misdemeanors, convictions, or if the defendant pleads guilty (Find Law, 2016). If the criminal cases are more miscellaneous, such as involving serious felonies, the sentencing judge will require the defense, probation department, and the prosecutors input. The judge will consider multiple factors determining a criminals sentence. He will consider if the offender has any criminal history, if the offender was the main accessory (which is someone who assists the main person that commits the crime), if the offender appearance is displayed well (as if they show remorse or regret), if anyone was injured or the crime was particularly likely to result into injury , or if the offender was cruel to a victim, destructive, etc... Judges in most cases have a clear mindset when determining a proper sentence. All convictions don’t get a tip to prison, some have alternative sentences include fines, community service, probation, suspended sentences, and deferred adjudication. Not to mention, judges do have many

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Without facts and evidence to prove someone's guilt it's impossible to convict them of the

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With millions of criminal convictions a year, more than two million people may end up behind bars(Gross). According to Samuel Gross reporter for The Washington Post, writes that also “even one percent amounts to tens of thousands of tragic [wrongful conviction] errors”(Gross). Citizens who are wrongfully convicted are incarcerated for a crime he or she did not commit. Many police officers, prosecutors, and judges are responsible for the verdict that puts innocents into prison. To be able to get exonerated many wait over a decade just to get there case looked at, not many are able to have the opportunity of getting out.

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Therefore, this is an outdated claim, due to our justice system changing and adapting to public beliefs. There may be a few wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system, however that does not make it cause more harm than good. In any system there are flaws, we cannot disregard all the good the justice system does. Although this system has flaws like all others, it is what safeguards our society's

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To be committed of a crime the judge or jurors must have enough evidence that there is no other possible explanation, this is referred to as beyond a reasonable doubt. If this is held true, how can someone still be wrongfully convicted? According to Sphohn, Cassia (2014) in 2008 more than 1.6 million United States citizens was imprisoned (p. 5.35). If only .5% of those individuals were innocent that would mean that 8,000 people are wrongfully convicted. That also means there are 8,000 people who are guilty of those crimes free among society.

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Although the accused could be factuality guilty, the charges have to be laid within a reasonable time period after the crime was committed. The factual guilty would not matter in that case by the case being denied, and they would half to

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So again, how can judges sort of level the playing field? Well look at past circumstances. The information that can be attained when considering circumstances can help the judge make his decision, and possibly the defendant too by getting a lighter sentence. Additionally when considering these circumstances judges break down that thinking that all felons do is bad, that they are not real

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Even the innocent get sentenced major years for crimes that weren't even committed by them. Sentence reforming needs to take action.

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Double jeopardy is the sole reason why some criminals walk free. The justice court is fallible: ineffective representation or perjury testimony would ultimately cause a wrongful conviction. Wrongful convictions are a concern of everybody, the families of the victims or the lawyers

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Criminals that are apprehended are punished with jail time. Some go to state run jails, federal prison, boot camps, or maximum security prisons. I theory that criminal sanctions should scare criminals straight, and convinced them that they never want to commit a crime again because of jail time. You would think that the loss of freedom, privilege to vote, and ability to enjoy life would scare someone straight. Well it does not, Research has found that prisoner’s in max security prisons has a higher return rate, than prisoner’s in state ran jails.

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