Editorial: Punish those who wrongfully convict | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Opinion: EditorialsState Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston is introducing two bills this session to tighten lineup-identification procedures and require the recording of suspect interrogations. Another pending bill would boost compensation for victims of wrongful convictions. Lawmakers should also seriously consider a proposal supported by Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins and the Texas Innocence Project to criminalize the withholding of exculpatory evidence in cases such as Cole's.
The shame should forever haunt Darnell and his cohorts for the injustice they committed. For others who follow, the prospect of criminal prosecution should chill their conviction-at-all-costs enthusiasm.
While I wholeheartedly want to see everyone involved in wrongfully convicting a man have to take responsibility for their actions, I don't think that any prison sentence or criminalization of anything is an effective deterrent. The number of people in prison in the United States can attest to that.
Technorati Tags: wrongful conviction, wrongfully convicted
No comments:
Post a Comment