Pennsylvania Commission Looks at Ways to Avoid Wrongful Convictions
A recent report from Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission reviewed the problem of wrongful convictions involving drug crimes, sex offenses and other violent crimes.

October 30, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The recent execution of Troy Davis in Georgia brought national attention to the issue of wrongful convictions in death penalty cases. States that apply the harshest of all possible consequences for murder must be held accountable by citizens to ensure the constitutional rights of condemned individuals.

The same is true for all types of criminal convictions, from violent crimes to drug crimes and sex crimes. A recent report from Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission reviewed the problem of wrongful convictions in the Commonwealth and provides a list of proposals for reform.

Citing work from the Innocence Project, the report noted 273 wrongful convictions overturned nationwide by DNA evidence, 11 of which were in Pennsylvania, that must challenge society's assumptions about the soundness of criminal justice practices. Pointedly, the report states that these exonerations "cast a disturbing doubt on the reliability of eyewitness identifications, confessions, and overly aggressive practices within the adversarial legal system."

Various subcommittees proposed targeted reforms that could lessen the likelihood that innocent people are punished for the crimes of others. Key proposals include the following:
- Pennsylvania law should be amended to improve procedures for lineups and photo arrays used in eyewitness identification
- Custodial interrogations should be electronically recorded
- Indigent defense services should be standardized and funded on a statewide basis
- Juries should be advised about the inherent unreliability of informant testimony
- Prosecutors should be subjected to stricter enforcement of ethical standards
- Timelines for postconviction relief should be extended
- Wrongfully convicted and imprisoned individuals should be allowed to seek damages and receive automatic expungement of criminal records
- Pennsylvania should require accreditation of forensic laboratories used in criminal investigations, as well as preservation of biological evidence

Criminal Defense Lawyers and Due Process Rights

Protection of a client's liberty, rights and reputation are among the most important responsibilities of a Pennsylvania felony defense attorney. Every citizen is entitled to diligent defense from the point of interrogation through trial and appeal. By fully exploring all legal options up to and including the Pennsylvania pardon process, experienced defense counsel can make a crucial difference in the final legal outcome.

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