The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction

Download The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 100059596X
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (5 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction by : Nicky Ali Jackson

Download or read book The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction written by Nicky Ali Jackson and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-07-07 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book exposes the myriad of victims of wrongful conviction by going beyond the innocent person who has been wrongfully incarcerated to include the numerous indirect victims who suffer collaterally. In no way overlooking the egregious effects on the wrongfully convicted, this book widens the net to also examine consequences for family, friends, co-workers, witnesses, the initial victims of the crime, and society in general—all indirect victims who are often forgotten in treatments of wrongful conviction. Utilizing interviews of exonerees and indirect victims, the authors capture the tangible and intangible costs of victimization across the board. The prison experience is examined through the lens of an innocent person, and the psychological impact of incarceration for the exoneree is explored. Special attention is given to the often-ignored experience of female exonerees and to the impact of race as a compounding factor in a vast number of miscarriages of justice. The book concludes with an overview of the victimization experiences that follow exonerees upon release. Unique to this book is its interdisciplinary approach to the troubling subject of wrongful conviction, combining perspectives from a number of fields, including criminal justice, criminology, victimology, psychology, sociology, social justice, history, political science, and law. Undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines will find this book helpful in their respective areas of study, and professionals in the legal system will benefit from appreciation of the far-reaching costs of wrongful convictions.

The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction

Download The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781003121251
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (212 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction by : Nicky Ali Jackson

Download or read book The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction written by Nicky Ali Jackson and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book exposes the myriad of victims of wrongful conviction by going beyond the innocent person who has been wrongfully incarcerated to include the numerous indirect victims who suffer collaterally. In no way overlooking the egregious effects on the wrongfully convicted, this book widens the net to also examine consequences for family, friends, co-workers, witnesses, the initial victims of the crime, and society in general-all indirect victims who are often forgotten in treatments of wrongful conviction. Through interviews of exonerees and indirect victims, the authors capture the tangible and intangible costs of victimization across the board. The prison experience is examined through the lens of an innocent person, and the psychological impact of incarceration for the exoneree is explored. Special attention is given to the often-ignored experience of female exonerees and to the impact of race as a compounding factor in a vast number of miscarriages of justice. The book concludes with an overview of the victimization experiences that follow exonerees upon release. Unique to this book is its interdisciplinary approach to the troubling subject of wrongful conviction, combining perspectives from a number of fields, including criminal justice, criminology, victimology, psychology, sociology, social justice, history, political science, and law. Undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines will find this book helpful in their respective areas of study, and professionals in the legal system will benefit from appreciation of the far-reaching costs of wrongful convictions"--

WRONGFUL CONVICTION

Download WRONGFUL CONVICTION PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Charles C Thomas Publisher
ISBN 13 : 0398092060
Total Pages : 263 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (98 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis WRONGFUL CONVICTION by : John A. Humphrey

Download or read book WRONGFUL CONVICTION written by John A. Humphrey and published by Charles C Thomas Publisher. This book was released on 2018-01-04 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The magnitude of wrongful conviction is increasing across the country and around the world, with individuals arrested, convicted, and incarcerated for extended periods of time. This book provides an understanding of legal remedies, organizational reforms, and policy changes that have been proposed and implemented. In various jurisdictions, these procedures reduce the likelihood of a wrongful conviction. Legal and organizational reforms and changes in criminal justice policy are considered at three key junctures of the process: (1) the investigation, evidence gathering, and forensic analysis, (2) prosecutorial decision-making, and (3) the judicial review and exoneration of a wrongfully convicted defendant. Each chapter opens with a wrongful case vignette that illustrates the reform strategies being considered. The investigatory process is studied on each case, and the police process is analyzed in detail. Part 1 includes the introductory chapter that provides an overview of wrongful convictions, and the investigatory process routinely employed to gather evidence and identify a suspect. The analysis of forensic evidence is explored, including the chain of custody, contamination of the evidence, misinterpretation, and the falsification of forensic reports. Part 2 focuses on the prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and juries. Plea bargaining strategies, coaching witnesses, violations of the rules of discovery, use of jailhouse snitches, inadequate defense counseling, lack of preparation and adequate resources are examined. Part 3 analyzes the processes involved in the reversal of wrongful convictions, the judicial review, and obstacles encountered in the exoneration process. In addition, the authors provide a thorough analytical overview of the criminal justice processes involved in wrongful conviction and the reforms that are needed to prevent and reverse injustices. This book is an invaluable resource for prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, advocates for the wrongfully convicted, criminal justice policymakers, law and society, and will contribute to academic courses in the fields of criminology and justice.

Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform

Download Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135077436
Total Pages : 472 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (35 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform by : Marvin Zalman

Download or read book Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform written by Marvin Zalman and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-10-30 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform is an important addition to the literature and teaching on innocence reform. This book delves into wrongful convictions studies but expands upon them by offering potential reforms that would alleviate the problem of wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system. Written to be accessible to students, Wrongful Conviction and Criminal Justice Reform is a main text for wrongful convictions courses or a secondary text for more general courses in criminal justice, political science, and law school innocence clinics.

American Justice in the Age of Innocence

Download American Justice in the Age of Innocence PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 1462014097
Total Pages : 460 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (62 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis American Justice in the Age of Innocence by : Hillary K. Valderrama

Download or read book American Justice in the Age of Innocence written by Hillary K. Valderrama and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2011-07-27 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The exoneration of more than two hundred and fifty people who have been wrongfully convicted makes it clear that Americas criminal justice system isnt foolproof. Its important to understand the causes of wrongful conviction in order to find solutions to this growing problem. Edited by one of the nations leading legal scholars and two of her top students, this collection of essays examines critical issues, including what American justice in the age of innocence looks like; how to implement procedural mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the judicial system while safeguarding the public; whether or not the legal system is doing a good enough job uncovering wrongful convictions. This anthology provides insightful lessons based on cutting-edge research and legal analysis. Wrongful convictions are not a foregone conclusion, but the justice system must break free from a pattern of punishing innocent people and go after the true culprits. Written for judges, lawyers and scholars alike, American Justice in the Age of Innocence educates the public and helps current prisoners who are innocent contest their wrongful convictions.

Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration

Download Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Greenhaven Publishing LLC
ISBN 13 : 1534505172
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (345 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration by : Lisa Idzikowski

Download or read book Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration written by Lisa Idzikowski and published by Greenhaven Publishing LLC. This book was released on 2019-07-15 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since 1989, there have been over 2,200 exonerations in the United States. These have resulted from a number of factors, including the discovery of new evidence, perjury, false identification, and bad forensic evidence. Even when an individual is exonerated, is it possible to compensate them for their loss of time and money? This volume looks at the issue from varying perspectives, exploring causes of wrongful convictions, ways to increase exonerations for those who were unjustly imprisoned, strategies to decrease the number of wrongful convictions going forward, and appropriate compensation for those who have lost years of their lives.

Miscarriages of Justice

Download Miscarriages of Justice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0124095283
Total Pages : 417 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (24 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Miscarriages of Justice by : Brent E. Turvey

Download or read book Miscarriages of Justice written by Brent E. Turvey and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2014-05-19 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Miscarriages of justice are a regular occurrence in the criminal justice system, which is characterized by government agencies that are understaffed, underfunded, and undertrained across the board. We know this because, every week, DNA testing and innocence projects across the United States help to identify and eventually overturn wrongful convictions. As a result, the exonerated go free and the stage is set for addressing criminal and civil liability. Criminal justice students and professionals therefore have a need to be made aware of the miscarriage problem as a threshold issue. They need to know what a miscarriage of justice looks like, how to recognize it's many forms, and what their duty of care might be in terms of prevention. They also need to appreciate that identifying miscarriages, and ensuring legal remedy, is an important function of the system that must be honored by all criminal justice professionals. The purpose of this textbook is to move beyond the law review, casebook, and true crime publications that comprise the majority of miscarriage literature. While informative, they are not designed for teaching students in a classroom setting. This text is written for use at the undergraduate level in journalism, sociology, criminology and criminal justice programs - to introduce college students to the miscarriage phenomenon in a structured fashion. The language is more broadly accessible than can be found in legal texts, and the coverage is multidisciplinary. Miscarriages of Justice: Actual Innocence, Forensic Evidence, and the Law focuses on the variety of miscarriages issues in the United States legal system. Written by leaders in the field, it is particularly valuable to forensic scientists and attorneys evaluating evidence or preparing for trial or appeal in cases where faulty evidence features prominently. It is also of value to those interested in developing arguments for miscarriage in post-conviction review of criminal cases. Chapters focus specifically on issues of law enforcement bias and corruption; false confessions; ineffective counsel and prosecutorial misconduct; forensic fraud; and more. The book closes by examining innocence projects and commissions, and civil remedies for the wrongfully convicted. This text ultimately presents the issue of miscarriages as a systemic and multi-disciplinary criminal justice issue. It provides perspectives from within the professional CJ community, and it serves as warning to future professionals about the dangers and consequences of apathy, incompetence, and neglect. Consequently, it can be used by any CJ educator to introduce any group of CJ students to the problem. Written by practicing criminal justice professionals in plain language for undergraduate students Covers multiple perspectives across the criminal justice system Informed by experience working for Innocence Projects across the United States to achieve successful exonerations Topical case examples to facilitate teaching and learning Companion website featuring Discussion topics, Exam questions and PowerPoint slides: http://textbooks.elsevier.com/web/Manuals.aspx?isbn=9780124115583

Autopsy of a Crime Lab

Download Autopsy of a Crime Lab PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Univ of California Press
ISBN 13 : 0520976630
Total Pages : 261 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (29 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Autopsy of a Crime Lab by : Brandon L. Garrett

Download or read book Autopsy of a Crime Lab written by Brandon L. Garrett and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2021-03-23 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book exposes the dangerously imperfect forensic evidence that we rely on for criminal convictions. "That's not my fingerprint, your honor," said the defendant, after FBI experts reported a "100-percent identification." The FBI was wrong. It is shocking how often they are. Autopsy of a Crime Lab is the first book to catalog the sources of error and the faulty science behind a range of well-known forensic evidence, from fingerprints and firearms to forensic algorithms. In this devastating forensic takedown, noted legal expert Brandon L. Garrett poses the questions that should be asked in courtrooms every day: Where are the studies that validate the basic premises of widely accepted techniques such as fingerprinting? How can experts testify with 100-percent certainty about a fingerprint, when there is no such thing as a 100 percent match? Where is the quality control at the crime scenes and in the laboratories? Should we so readily adopt powerful new technologies like facial recognition software and rapid DNA machines? And why have judges been so reluctant to consider the weaknesses of so many long-accepted methods? Taking us into the lives of the wrongfully convicted or nearly convicted, into crime labs rocked by scandal, and onto the front lines of promising reform efforts driven by professionals and researchers alike, Autopsy of a Crime Lab illustrates the persistence and perniciousness of shaky science and its well-meaning practitioners.

False Justice

Download False Justice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317667727
Total Pages : 321 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (176 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis False Justice by : Jim Petro

Download or read book False Justice written by Jim Petro and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-07-11 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compelling and engagingly written, this book by former Attorney General of Ohio Jim Petro and his wife, writer Nancy Petro, takes the reader inside actual cases, summarizes extensive research on the causes and consequences of wrongful conviction, and exposes eight common myths that inspire false confidence in the justice system and undermine reform. Now published in paperback with an extensive list of web links to wrongful conviction sources internationally, False Justice is ideal for use in a wide array of criminal justice and criminology courses. Myth 1: Everyone in prison claims innocence. Myth 2: Our system almost never convicts an innocent person. Myth 3: Only the guilty confess. Myth 4: Wrongful conviction is the result of innocent human error. Myth 5: An eyewitness is the best testimony. Myth 6: Conviction errors get corrected on appeal. Myth 7: It dishonors the victim to question a conviction. Myth 8: If the justice system has problems, the pros will fix them.

The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System

Download The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1137341157
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (373 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System by : Michael Naughton

Download or read book The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System written by Michael Naughton and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-06-11 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Innocent and the Criminal Justice System examines competing perspectives on, and definitions of, miscarriages of justice to tackle these questions and more in this critical sociological examination of innocence and wrongful conviction. This book: - Is the first book of its kind to cover wrong convictions, from definition and causation to the limits of redress - Provides a wealth of case studies and statistics to apply theoretical discussions of the criminal justice system to real-life situations - Discusses ideas and challenges that are highly relevant to current political and social debates Elegantly written by a leading expert in the field, this book is essential reading for students of criminology, criminal justice and law, looking to understand the workings of the criminal justice system and how it can fail the innocent.

Compensation and Wrongful Conviction

Download Compensation and Wrongful Conviction PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (139 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Compensation and Wrongful Conviction by : Claire Moore Lankford

Download or read book Compensation and Wrongful Conviction written by Claire Moore Lankford and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wrongful convictions represent grievous errors carried out by state actors either through misconduct or structural failures within the criminal justice system. A majority of research, policy, and advocacy focuses on the legal demands of individuals who are wrongfully convicted. However, this focus excludes the aftermath of exoneration and the barriers individuals face as they adjust to the community post-release (e.g., financial, physical health, mental health). Wrongful conviction has a lasting impact on the family members and children of those who are wrongfully convicted, directly impacts the victim of the crime, and increases societal distrust in the criminal justice system. Given the deleterious effects wrongful conviction has on individuals, families, and society, it is critical to further understand citizens' perceptions of compensation, which serves as one restorative modality. This study examined the general public's perception of compensation for wrongful conviction based on race and previous criminal conviction. Participants (N = 413) consisted of United States citizens who were randomly assigned to one of four case vignettes 1) Black exoneree with no previous criminal conviction 2) Black exoneree with a previous criminal conviction 3) white exoneree with no previous criminal conviction 4) white exoneree with a previous conviction. Results revealed a significant interaction effect between race and criminal conviction on the amount of compensation awarded to exonerees. Specifically, Black exonerees with no previous criminal conviction were awarded more compensation than Black exonerees with a previous criminal conviction and compared to white exonerees with no criminal conviction. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.

Rectify

Download Rectify PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Beacon Press
ISBN 13 : 080702919X
Total Pages : 250 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (7 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Rectify by : Lara Bazelon

Download or read book Rectify written by Lara Bazelon and published by Beacon Press. This book was released on 2018-10-16 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A powerful argument for adopting a model of restorative justice as part of the Innocence Movement—so exonerees, crime victims, and their communities can come together to heal In Rectify, a former Innocence Project director and journalist Lara Bazelon puts a face to the growing number of men and women exonerated from crimes that kept them behind bars for years—sometimes decades—and that devastate not only the exonerees but also their families, the crime victims who mistakenly identified them as perpetrators, the jurors who convicted them, and the prosecutors who realized too late that they helped convict an innocent person. Bazelon focuses on Thomas Haynesworth, a teenager arrested for multiple rapes in Virginia, and Janet Burke, a rape victim who mistakenly IDed him. It took over two decades before he was exonerated. Conventional wisdom points to an exoneration as a happy ending to tragic tales of injustice, such as Haynesworth’s. However, even when the physical shackles are left behind, invisible ones can be profoundly more difficult to unlock. In the midst of Bazelon’s frustration over the blatant limitations of courts and advocates, her hope is renewed by the fledgling but growing movement to apply the centuries-old practice of restorative justice to wrongful conviction cases. Using the stories of Thomas Haynesworth, Janet Burke, and other crime victims and exonerees, she demonstrates how the transformative experience of connecting isolated individuals around mutual trauma and a shared purpose of repairing harm unite unlikely allies. Movingly written and vigorously researched, Rectify takes to task the far-reaching failures of our criminal justice system and offers a window into a future where the power it yields can be used in pursuit of healing and unity rather than punishment and blame.

Surviving Justice

Download Surviving Justice PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Verso Books
ISBN 13 : 1786632225
Total Pages : 524 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (866 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Surviving Justice by : Voice of Witness

Download or read book Surviving Justice written by Voice of Witness and published by Verso Books. This book was released on 2017-08-01 with total page 524 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Surviving Justice: America's Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated presents oral histories of thirteen people from all walks of life, who, through a combination of all-too-common factors-overzealous prosecutors, inept defense lawyers, coercive interrogation tactics, eyewitness misidentification-found themselves imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. The stories these exonerated men and women tell are spellbinding, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring.

TIME Innocent

Download TIME Innocent PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Time Inc. Books
ISBN 13 : 1683300394
Total Pages : 193 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (833 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis TIME Innocent by : The Editors of Time

Download or read book TIME Innocent written by The Editors of Time and published by Time Inc. Books. This book was released on 2017-02-17 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: TIME looks at those wrongfully convicted, and the fight to set them free.

Forensic Victimology

Download Forensic Victimology PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0124079202
Total Pages : 657 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (24 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Forensic Victimology by : Brent E. Turvey

Download or read book Forensic Victimology written by Brent E. Turvey and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-08-08 with total page 657 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published in 2009, the first edition of Forensic Victimology introduced criminologists and criminal investigators to the idea of systematically gathering and examining victim information for the purposes of addressing investigative and forensic issues. The concepts presented within immediately proved vital to social scientists researching victims-offender relationships; investigators and forensic scientists seeking to reconstruct events and establish the elements of a crime; and criminal profilers seeking to link pattern crimes. This is because the principles and guidelines in Forensic Victimology were written to serve criminal investigation and anticipate courtroom testimony. As with the first, this second edition of Forensic Victimology is an applied presentation of a traditionally theoretical subject written by criminal justice practitioners with years of experience-both in the field and in the classroom. It distinguishes the investigative and forensic aspects of applied victim study as necessary adjuncts to what has often been considered a theoretical field. It then identifies the benefits of forensic victimology to casework, providing clearly defined methods and those standards of practice necessary for effectively serving the criminal justice system. 30% new content, with new chapters on Emergency Services, False Confessions, and Human Trafficking Use of up-to-date references and case examples to demonstrate the application of forensic victimology Provides context and scope for both the investigative and forensic aspects of case examination and evidence interpretation Approaches the study of victimology from a realistic standpoint, moving away from stereotypes and archetypes Useful for students and professionals working in relation to behavioral science, criminology, criminal justice, forensic science, and criminal investigation

Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law

Download Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1000880672
Total Pages : 189 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law by : Jon Robins

Download or read book Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law written by Jon Robins and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-05-31 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection brings together international experts to present a comparative analysis of wrongful conviction and criminal procedure. The volume takes an interdisciplinary approach with authors drawn from a broad range of backgrounds including law, psychology, forensics and journalism. All are experts in their field with direct experience of the investigation of wrongful conviction in their own countries. Focusing on the main areas of concern in their own jurisdiction, each author discusses common themes, including: the extent of the problem; the types of cases that feature in miscarriages of justice; the legal mechanism for the correction of a wrongful conviction; compensation for the wrongly convicted; public awareness and concern about the issue generally and in light of highprofile cases; and the extent to which wrongful conviction has driven criminal justice reform. The book will be essential reading for students, researchers and policy-makers interested in comparative law, criminology and psychology.

Understanding Wrongful Conviction (First Edition)

Download Understanding Wrongful Conviction (First Edition) PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cognella Academic Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781516597574
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (975 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Understanding Wrongful Conviction (First Edition) by : Robert J. Ramsey

Download or read book Understanding Wrongful Conviction (First Edition) written by Robert J. Ramsey and published by Cognella Academic Publishing. This book was released on 2019-12-23 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding Wrongful Conviction: How Innocent People Are Convicted of Crimes They Did Not Commit identifies and discusses breakdowns in the criminal justice system that can have profoundly negative effects on individuals operating within or who are subjects of the system. The text also explores what can be done to successfully reduce the incidence of wrongful conviction. The opening chapter defines wrongful conviction, explains the importance of its study, and provides readers with context as to how often it happens within the American criminal justice system. Readers are provided with an overview of the history of wrongful conviction and the innocence movement. They read chapters that describe how errors and misconduct related to eyewitness testimony, forensic science, false confessions, false accusations, police error, prosecutorial error, and defense attorney error can lead to wrongful convictions. The final chapters address the aftereffects of wrongful conviction and what can be done to reduce instances of wrongful conviction. Providing readers with a unique and critical perspective, Understanding Wrongful Conviction is an ideal resource for courses and programs in criminal justice.