Innocent People Can Be Wrongfully Convicted
The American criminal justice system may be the best in the world, but it is far from perfect.
Justice Can Be Hard to Find and Even Innocent People Can Face a Wrongful Conviction
“The American judicial system is the best in the world.” This statement is frequently made in virtually every courthouse in the United States of America daily. Although the statement is probably true, it is also a sad commentary on a person’s ability to find justice even in the most sophisticated, fair legal system available. The fact is that a strong, skilled defense is critical because innocent people can be wrongfully convicted.
Most people think that because the burden of proof in a criminal case is “beyond a reasonable doubt,” only truly guilty defendants are convicted at trial. The truth of the matter is that since 1973, close to 200 people have been released from death row because, years later and often as they sat on death’s door, they were proven innocent by DNA and other scientific means.
Unfortunately, death penalty cases make up only a minuscule portion of criminal convictions. They are the only cases that get the attention of high-powered lawyers with the resources to defend clients successfully. If the same attention were paid to other convictions, the number of wrongfully convicted, innocent defendants would be staggering.
Why do you need a lawyer if you’re innocent?
A recent study in Ohio, based on a survey of 188 judges, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, sheriffs, police chiefs, and 41 state attorneys general, suggests that as many as 10,000 innocent people may be convicted in the United States every year.
One of the most frequent questions I’m asked as a lawyer is, “if I’m innocent, why do I need a lawyer?” The judicial system’s failures and the plague of innocent people being wrongfully convicted suggest that an aggressive, intelligent, and formidable criminal defense lawyer is indispensable to the wrongfully charged or the overcharged defendant.
Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.
We will find a way to help you.
We Are Not Afraid to Win!
