Innocence+Commissions


 * Innocence Commissions:

What is an innocence commission?**

In response to the flaws in the criminal justice system that lead to wrongful convictions, several states have formed innocence commissions that help ensure the fairness and accuracy of the administration of criminal justice in that state. In other words, they review "the system" and make suggestions for improvement based on exonerated cases.


 * What they do:**
 * Review the cases of the exonerees
 * Identify the most common causes of wrongful convictions
 * Develop policy recommendations to prevent more wrongful convictions
 * Protect the rights of victims and make sure they are not revictimized when cases are reopened


 * Cost of an innocence commission:**

Most of the time an Innocence Commission works in tandum with already existing jobs. For most members, working in the innocence commission is just a continuation of their work day.


 * Pennsylvania's Innocence Commission:**

Pennsylvania's Innocence Commission Act:
 * 2006, developed a plan to create a committee for wrongful conviction cases.
 * crafted by Stewart J. Greenleaf in response to nine exonerated cases
 * 30 members including: DAs, prosecutors, judges, correction officials, police, and victim advocates
 * Formed in Jan. 2007

Please Note:
 * In PA, the average time spent wrongfully in prison is about 15 years.
 * As of 2007, only nine reviewed cases were exonerated
 * As of 2007: PA, by law, does not have to provide any compensation to those wrongfully imprisoned


 * States with Functioning Innocence Commissions:**
 * California
 * Connecticut
 * Illinois
 * North Carolina
 * Virginia
 * Wisconsin


 * Know the cases:

Steven Toney** Total Time Served: 13 years
 * Convicted of rape and sodomy in 1983
 * Convicted because misidentification by the victim
 * Aggravating circumstances: Had a history of drug abuse, hung around crime scene area, identified by victim and gas station worker
 * Appealed: ineffective council, violation of due process, inappropriate sentencing, discarded evidence that would have cleared him, and denial of DNA testing by his own attorney.
 * exonerated after DNA returned negative, in 1996
 * No compensation

Total Time Served: 12 years
 * Ronald Gene Taylor**
 * Convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1995
 * Identified in line up by the victim because he had a missing tooth
 * Aggravating Circumstance: lived in area where the crime was committed.
 * Eyewitness testimony was unreliable as her story changed several times
 * Appealed: DNA test on sperm in bed
 * Exonerated by negative DNA test in 2008
 * Real perpetrator found.
 * No compensation yet

Innocents