Wrongful Convictions

The Wrongful Convictions class at Washington and Lee School of Law examines the principal causes of wrongful convictions and possible measures to prevent or remedy them.

With the guidance of experienced Lexington litigator Ross Haine, Esquire, the class focuses on various topics:

    (1)  Mistaken eyewitness identifications;
    (2)  False confessions;
    (3)  "Jailhouse snitches" and cooperating witnesses;
    (4)  Incompetent defense counsel;
    (5)  Police, prosecutorial and judicial misconduct;
    (6)  The role of forensic DNA testing; and
    (7)  Post-conviction remedies for innocence claims.

The course also addresses ways in which the criminal justice system might reform to improve its fairness and accuracy and emphasizes creative and innovative approaches to the problem of wrongful convictions.

Although only in its second year, various topics relating to wrongful convictions have been researched in hopes of providing needed information to the community-at-large.  

 

Wrongful Convictions, an Overview

 

 Interrogation Tactics

The Use and Reliability of Science

 

 

  Prosecutorial Misconduct and Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Witnesses

Confessions

Statutory Innocence, Clemency and Pardons

 

Books of Interest

Life After Exoneration

 

 

A Current Case of Wrongful Conviction?