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                            Library & Multimedia
 Wrongful Conviction: What Does Science Tell Us About the Causes?
NCJ Number
              243293

Date Published

2013
Length
              1 page
Annotation
              This is an outline of the findings of a NIJ-sponsored study that identified 10 statistically significant case factors that distinguish a wrongful conviction from a "near miss" case (a case in which an innocent defendant was acquitted or had charges dismissed before trial).
Abstract
              Wrongful convictions were significantly more likely to involve younger defendants with a criminal history. Factors related to the prosecution's case were a weak package of evidence and the prosecution's withholding of exculpatory evidence. Types of problems with evidence were lying by a non-eyewitness; unintentional misidentification by an eyewitness, and misinterpretation of forensic evidence at trial. Other factors in wrongful convictions were a weak defense, the defendant offered a family witness, and a pervasive "punitive" culture in the State where the trial was held. This brief report on the study provides information on how to access a more comprehensive summary of the report, internet access to a video of the presentation of study findings at a seminar, and an announcement of a web-based seminar on the study in mid-April 2013.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2009-IJ-CX-4110


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Presentation (Multimedia)
                                Issue Overview
                                Instructional Material


  
  
        
  Award
        A Proposal for Social Science Research on Wrongful Conviction
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2013
    
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