Wrongful Conviction

The criminal justice system was once considered infallible—innocent people did not end up in prison. But DNA evidence has revealed that innocents are, in fact, incarcerated and perhaps even executed. This course focuses on the prevalence of wrongful conviction; the harms caused by wrongful conviction; the causes of wrongful conviction; strategies for reducing wrongful conviction; and the prospect of compensating the wrongfully convicted. Prerequisite: SOCI 1810 or permission of instructor.