Agreed

Absolutely which is why I often compare lawyering to great acting... They will go to extreme measures not to get caught...
There are a high ratio of sociopaths in both careers... They are two of the top 10 that sociopaths seek to be employed in so it's not really surprising that they're careers of power that can cause a lot of pain
There is 'usually' severe prosecutorial misconduct in cases of wrongful conviction...

I often hear that they want to make an arrest especially for crimes that are considered heinous however I can't imagine what satisfaction anyone would receive by arresting and convicting the wrong person
I saw a Larry King show once that had a man (sorry I forget his name, my bad) that had had his conviction from death row overturned...It was a rape/murder and it was due to DNA... They had a panel of guests on and he kept breaking down in tears due to his mom having died when he was on death row... There were a couple of ex prosecutors on that kept making cracks about DNA not being everything... I think if I had been there I would have thrown something at them I was so disgusted

New Orleans was a text book for this when Harry Connick was DA... Just a nightmare of cruelty and injustice

These people need to be held accountable for their actions however they seldom are

I honestly think going to the beginning... Getting students in law schools, or journalism... Getting them worked up and feeling passionate is a good place to start getting extra workers and support for advocacy R if you aren't already doing this

This is why there are prisons filled with poor people as well... They can't afford good lawyers... There needs to be a lot more of this type of article... They are unfortunately never as frequent as the crimes written about...sigh

Imagine having this power the twisted f&*@

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/09/connick-v-thompson

I know I've mentioned personality disorders before when it comes to wrongful convictions and those who seek them... I do think that fairly frequently the personality does come into play... I think to work in this field you have to have a fairly alpha personality to begin with and to fight against the law and what is right at the same time as in a malicious prosecution or to keep someone imprisoned wrongly it speaks volumes and it also shows there is often conspiracy
Those who become part of the 'gang' to uphold a wrongful conviction give one another permission by way of being supportive to this terrible travesty ... The 'gang' mentality will go leaps and bounds to stop the 'gang' from being exposed thus letting them believe that they are somehow doing the 'right' thing... I don't think that they can possibly believe it if they took time to look within themselves however depending on ones personality they could be beyond caring

Jan,

I think the inmate on death row who was freed with DNA evidence may have been Kirk Bloodsworth.

Being convicted of a crime you did not commit---especially the first degree rape of a minor----certainly does something to you psychologically and in my case, it will probably be something I will have to live with the rest of my life.

But I am OK with it as I know the false conviction is part of me; it is who I am. I am not only a happy person, but one who is very appreciative of things most people take for granted----their freedom, a hot shower, a decent meal, and even a/c in the summer. I have so much to be grateful for.

One thing a false conviction does is cause the convicted to lose his innocence. Everything you have been taught to believe when growing up----the police never lie, that police are our friends, that our government is somehow noble, that very few innocent men go to prison----is just a lie. Not only does the conviction sever any trust you have for people in authority, you feel betrayed by society.

I also have a form of PTSD because of the conviction, although I never realized it until several years after my release.

Even after over 20 years, I still have dreams about twice a week with one recurring theme----I am always in an environment with a bunch of other guys and I know I should not be there. I keep telling the people who run the place that I don't understand why I am here, but they just shrug their shoulders. In some of the dreams, I even go walking around and whenever I see a door, I open it to see if it might be a way to get out of there and go home. The dream ends when I wake up, and I never get to go home.

The dreams are not nightmarish, but they are very uncomfortable, and I am very relieved when I wake up in bed and figure out I am indeed home and not at that strange place anymore.

I actually did not realize that my dreams might be a form of PTSD until I was talking to a physician friend about these dreams. He said, "REW, you have a mild case of PTSD.

The strange thing is I had always heard of PTSD, but I always thought it was something that happened to others and that I was far too strong a person to ever have something like that.

No matter how mentally strong a person thinks he is, something like a false conviction and imprisonment has a psychological effect.

But I have learned that a false conviction plants something in your subconscious that you can never get rid of.

But nobody needs to feel sorry for me. I have learned from all this experience that I am a very blessed man and I feel blessed every day I can wake up and face the next day.

I am no longer even bitter at those people who lied, coached witnesses, sabotaged my defense, and caused me all this pain. I just don't care and never think about them any more.

I now use my experience to help other men and women and their families cope with having a loved one in prison or on the registry.

That is what I do; this is something I need to do because I don't enjoy seeing people in pain.

rewdiazepam

Ralph I think most people who suffer a wrongful conviction end up with PTSD... It's a severe trauma and it has nothing to do with strength or weakness sweetie... You were dealt a severe trauma by people you were taught you could trust
I think that's part of the problem so many still want to trust these people in positions of such great power...You have turned a scar into a star and it's awesome that you have... This is what Rubin Carter did as well however he had lifetime struggles and I don't think that there's anyone who's been through this who hasn't... Some much more then others

Trust must be a very difficult thing

We have a couple of famous wrongful convictions here that books have been written about both were teenage boys when they were arrested... One is "Milgaard" .. The David Milgaard story... His mother actually started the second chapter of AIDWAYC and another is The Steven Truscott story... He was 14 and actually received the death penalty when Canada still had it... .. Both have been overturned

It's important to take the steps you need to in order to be as well as you can... There is good help for PTSD from therapy to meds to help control symptoms
I have vivid dreams/nightmares and I know that they can be troublesome
I know your life has been forever changed R and I know that you have decided that giving to others is how you need to deal with it... People are fortunate to have you to reach out to and advocate for them.. You understand what most people will never know fortunately and you're using that understanding so well and wisely... Big hug for you and a blessing my friend..xo

I find vivid dreams/nightmares often stay with you for a long time after you awake at least they do for me at least... If it happens very often R I think that there's a medication that is often used for PTSD nightmares

This is some information on the extreme trauma of a wrongful conviction... There's quite a bit about it online.. I don't want to trigger you though

http://trauma.blog.yorku.ca/2011/12/wrongful-conviction-psychological-trauma-and-the-case-of-amanda-knox/

Theres something else that can go a long away to someone accusing someone hear in Australia and thats called victims crime payment. .....that money can be used for anything.

One of the hardest things for me was to read this, ponder it, and read it again. I cried, and I tear up now.

To me, learning that the same system that is supposed to honor justice is the one creating the hellhole for the poor, the disabled, the ill, just is wrong. I know, for a fact, of several cases that were resolved, just before trial, when I stepped up to be a witness even after being threatened, intimidation, subversive tactics, and yet when it was over, I was made to be wrong. Several months later, my friend was shot execution style by the same group of individuals, and I walked away from that whole situation with a wary caution toward the legal system in general.

I do not know what makes it better, except for me, those terror nightmares (worse than a nightmare) are the ones that I give my walking the hallway time to recover, and it helps. PTSD is common to witnesses, as well as those wrongly accused.

Thanks for sharing.

Big hug for you mideye... I can't imagine having a friend executed nor can I imagine the pain... It boggles the mind
I think justice is a wonderful ideal however then people are thrown into the mix... A lot of bright people work in the justice system who want to win... It often seems like trials are competitions and it becomes about 'winning a case' and justice becomes lost in the system... Truth and Justice are just a fantasy

I think it helps people to understand when they realize we have a LEGAL system, not a JUSTICE system.

Our legal system is merely an adversarial system which pits the state or government against the defense. Whichever side can present their case in the best manner will win the case. Because of this showmanship between attorneys, sometimes the innocent get convicted and the guilty go free.

Guilt or innocence really does not play into it.

rewdiazepam

Well said rew!!

Eloquently stated, rew...and thanks, sun, I have tears ... had not realized that I have never thought of the loss of "justice"...and I feel a little more peace of mind...thanks for this group. Thanks for the open conversation that give us a chance to heal as much as we can safely.