Recording Interrogations is a Public Safety Imperative
By John F. Terzano
Last month, Frank Sterling was exonerated by DNA evidence after being incarcerated 18 years for a crime he did not commit. Sterling was…
Read More »Ohio Latest in Reform Trend to Prevent Wrongful Convictions
By John F. Terzano
On April 5th Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed a reform bill that will help reduce wrongful convictions and improve the fairness and accuracy of…
Read More »Another Exoneration Demonstrates the Need for Criminal Justice Reform
By John F. Terzano
After seventeen years, Gregory Taylor was finally freed on February 17th when the three judge panel of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission…
Read More »Cole Pardon a Stark Reminder of the Need to Fix Eyewitness Procedures
By Edwin Colfax
On March 1 Texas Governor Rick Perry officially pardoned Timothy Cole, who was wrongfully convicted over two decades ago. Tragically, the DNA tests that…
Read More »Another Case of Mistaken Eyewitness Identification
Forest Shomberg walked free from a Wisconsin prison last month after serving six years for a crime he did not commit. Thanks to…
Read More »Changing the “Convict at All Costs” Culture of Prosecutor’s Offices
By John F. Terzano
All too often, prosecutors’ offices fall prey to a culture of conviction-seeking at all costs. Prosecutors who become singularly focused on conviction…
Read More »Prosecutors Must be Held Accountable for Misconduct
By John F. Terzano
Charged with dual roles as advocates and ministers of justice, prosecutors are the most powerful actors in our criminal justice system. They…
Read More »How Many More Innocent People Aren’t So Lucky?
By Edwin Colfax
Texas has made many headlines in recent years for the spate of exonerations of wrongfully convicted men. In most of these cases, fortuitous…
Read More »Tim Cole Panel Begins Study Texas Wrongful Convictions
By John F. Terzano
Texas has had more than its share of tragic wrongful convictions. Of the more than 40 people exonerated by DNA in Texas,…
Read More »Study of Georgia’s Wrongfully Convicted Highlights Powerful Need for Reform
By John F. Terzano
Twenty innocent men spent almost 170 years in prison in Georgia for crimes they did not commit. What does eight years mean…
Read More »The Costs of Wrongful Convictions Continue to Rise
By John F. Terzano
Last week, the San Jose Mercury News reported that Jeffrey Rodriguez, a man from San Jose who spent five years in prison for…
Read More »Sonnier’s Release Highlights Continuing Problem
By John F. Terzano
Another innocent man is free in Texas. Ernest Sonnier was released from custody on Friday after DNA testing implicated two different men in…
Read More »Texas Case Highlights Problems in forensics lab
By John F. Terzano
George Rodriguez is seeking justice. In 2004, DNA testing exonerated Rodriguez for the 1987 abduction and sexual assault he had been convicted…
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