U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Wrongful Convictions: Causes, Prevention, Impact and Outlook for Corrections
NCJ Number
              244915

Author(s)
          Doris  Wells
Date Published

December 2013
Length
              3 pages
Annotation
              This report discusses the results of a study that examined the effects that wrongful convictions have on the criminal justice system.
Abstract
              This report presents the results of a study that examined the factors leading to wrongful convictions and the impact that these convictions have on the criminal justice system. The study found that the following factors were significant to whether or not an innocent defendant was wrongfully convicted: whether the case was tried in a punitive State or one with a death penalty culture; the age and criminal history of the defendant; whether the prosecution withheld evidence or presented a weak case; the strength of the defense and use of the defendant's family member as a witness; misidentification of the defendant; errors in the presentation of forensic evidence; and lying by non-eyewitnesses. A set of recommendations are presented in the article that address ways to prevent wrongful convictions of innocent defendants. These recommendations include the use of checklists for investigations, performing DNA tests early in the investigation, having prosecutors establishing open-file discoveries, and providing a threshold of evidence to support why a defendant is in a lineup. The report also discusses the financial impact that wrongful convictions have on the criminal justice system due to the extra expenses incurred in housing, treating, and training these individuals. 3 endnotes
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2009-IJ-CX-4110


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Legislation/Policy Analysis


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

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Corrections
        Criminal histories
        Death penalty
        Defendants
        Sentencing and sanctions



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Broadly Applicable Assay for Rapidly and Accurately Quantifying DNA Surface Coverage on Diverse Particles
                  The Development of Bioaffinity-based Concepts for On-site Forensic Analyses: Blood, Sweat, and Fingerprints?
                  Extending the discrete Laplace method: Incorporating multi-copy loci, partial repeats and null alleles
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov