I had never heard of this case until I saw the series. Watching that poor boy broke my heart. You shouldn't be able to treat a child like that let alone someone who quite obviously has learning difficulties. Even if the boy was a cold blooded killer, even if there was no doubt in anyone's minds, even if he was head to toe in blood he should not have been coerced like that. It frightens me, it really does.

I agree - the treatment of the "star" witness is enough to cast reasonable doubt in my mind ....

You know the article mentions the numbers of false confessions (not only by kids but also adults) - seems to me that if the tactics of the LE produce this result than something is clearly wrong with the tactics. I know we knew that already but but it is becoming more apparent in the media etc.

I think the tactics and these method of getting people to admit to whatever LE needs them to admit to are pretty generally taught LE across the board and used in a lot of situations. Since police officers/ investigators/ jail and prison guards/ parole officers all sort of circulate from one position to another through what we mistakenly think of as separate departments they all get training to use these same tactics in their job situations where they want someone to tell them self incriminating information whether its 'true' or not. As long as what's said suits their purpose. .

We think of these sorts of confessions as being used only on 'new' cases however parole officers use such tactics to get parolees to self incriminate and people end up being violated. The tactics are used to some degree in 'conversations' with family members on home visits. I think it is important for anyone likely to be faced with having such 'conversations" to understand what these tactics are and how they are used so they can avoid being mouse trapped. It's not just youngsters or the mentally impaired who are vulnerable. So many people don't really understand what the system is really like and think they are just having a conversation when someone's freedom is actually on the line. Just saying keep your mouth shut is good advise but these tactics play on trust and the expectation that the 'justice system' is just and they put their head in the lion's mouth. Why do you think eye-witness testimony is so shaky? Because it is often shaped by investigators to 'remember' / 'see' a piece of 'evidence' or a situation needed to fill in a 'gap' in the investigation needed to 'prove' a case. It's not just that evidence is 'planted' memories are to.

The Rolling Stone article has hyperlinks to more information and research about specific tactics taught. Since we are all subject to being questioned by people who know how to mess with our minds and mouse trap us into telling them something that they push us into saying, true or not it behooves us to learn about it . It's a gotcha -system. and we shouldn't be naïve about how they go about getting not only convictions/ violations but tactics for getting witnesses and family members say things they later regret..

I think this video I received from Vicki Henry (WAR) is so on point about how 'investigators' question / take months and months to bring charges (as in this case) because they need time to shape shaky testimony into charges. In this case in Oregon City Oregon they couldn't manage to keep the 'victim's story on track and finally had to dismiss charges but the man's wife had breast cancer and had to go it alone because while they were taking their time doing the investigation this wife was going through chemo and then died last April.

Oregon City Man starts Lawsuit against girl who falsely accused him

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Oregon City Man starts Lawsuit against girl who falsely ...

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Vicki Henry
Women Against Registry, President
800-311-3764
Fighting the Destruction of Families
http://www.womenagainstregistry.com
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The title of this topic is "The Justice system is not equipped to give them a fair trial."

It could have just as easily read, "The justice system, as for as the state is concerned, has no intention of giving anyone a fair trial."

Prosecutors and those in the upper echelons of LE---most notably detectives and interrogators----determine in their own mind that the offender is guilty the day he is arrested. From that day forward, there is a conscientious effort to do whatever is necessary to garner a conviction.

Once they make that determination, the die is cast; any exculpatory evidence which might prove the suspect's innocence is ignored, and sometimes even hidden, and any evidence---no matter how trivial or shaky---is embraced. In short, the prosecutorial team becomes the judge, they jury, and the executioner.

I am sure when they see a young, naive young man arrested, they lick their chops knowing that this will be an easy conviction.

I am sure somewhere that people in LE and prosecutors have to take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution as part of their duties. Considering this, I find it so troublesome that citizens have to use the same Constitutional protections, usually Fourth or Fifth Amendment protections, to protect us against the prosecution team; since these are the same rights the DA and the police swore to uphold in the first place.

Giving anyone on the prosecutorial team----and trust me, LE is on that team---the "benefit of the doubt" has left this country with thousands of false convictions, most of which will never be overturned.

rewdiazepam

rew: "The justice system, as for as the state is concerned, has no intention of giving anyone a fair trial."
I think that about sums it up. None of the "exonerations would have even 'happened' if DNA had not been there to prove the person not-guilty.
What I don't believe is as well recognized is the extent to which all the evidence is massaged into shape to fit the legal requirements necessary to filing felony charges. Never mind out and out planting/ withholding evidence.

For example, not only are juvenile defendants/ 'perpetrators' coerced into admitting guilt where none n=may exist but juvenile witnesses report of what exactly they experienced is massaged too using the same tactics. When that happens the 'victim' is called a liar or the child's mother is called spiteful etc. No one says that a person convicted of a felony who 'admitted' / gave a confession which is later proven to have been coerced is a "liar.' Due to the adversarial nature of the system the report of every one concerned is shaped to fit the prosecutor's narrative. In order to "save" the victim and punish the 'bad guy, the stories of both often have to be shaped so the prosecutor is shown to be a Hero.
The link to the Oregon story is a great example. The little girls story was massaged so much by investigators from her father's LE department that at trial even the prosecutor had to move to dismiss
BUT they blame the little girl for 'changing her story" What did they expect interviewing a juvenile who just wanted to tell a story that would please all of the? Thank goodness this man was exonerated before trial but look at all the collateral damage he and his family suffered? He couldn't be with his wife and children for the year it took to charge him. He was a teacher (how did he support his family during the time he was being investigated?) His wife had cancer and died this last April. (Before or after the 'move to dismiss?" ) He could not be there for his family when they most needed him and during that whole time (as they "investigated" He and his family suffered the shame and disgrace of merely being accused.
Imagine how many times people dismissed his "claim" that he was in fact innocent. (when according to John Walsh and the self-righteous they are all always guilty and by gosh what ever it take to prove that they willingly make happen)