Wrongful Conviction – Term Paper

Wrongful convictions happen nearly every day as people are sent to prison for crimes they did not commit or for the wrong reasons. The primary causes of mistaken conviction eyewitness misidentifications, junk science, false confession, bad lawyering, government misconduct, and snitches. Primarily, some judges rely on some material facts that are not adequate to convict people (Covey 2013). Furthermore, judges should rely on hard evidence in the process of giving their convictions as it enables people to have a fair hearing concerning the crimes they are accused of. Furthermore, they will reduce the wrongful convictions hence giving people the right to justice and the freedom they deserve. 

Probable cause is the obligation by the criminal law that the authorities have adequate reason to conduct a search, arrest an individual, or size property that is related to criminal activities or any alleged crime. Probable cause is not proper to pass a case for filling. Primarily, for a case to move to the filling stage, it should have evidence that proves beyond reasonable doubt that the individual accused committed the crime (Covey 2013). The case the low-level felony I would not pass it for the filling stage this is because it is a minor case and it should.

However, the case involving murder case is severe and need a serious review of the facts at hand to determine whether it should pass the filling stage. Primarily, evidence beyond a reasonable doubt is crucial before determining the status of such a case to avoid wrongful conviction. Such a case deserves passing the filling stage as it shows if the officer can show some probable cause then some material facts are likely to come up during the trial period that may prove that the individual committed the crime (Covey 2013). 

References

Covey, R. D. (2013). Police misconduct as a cause of wrongful convictions. Washington University Law Review, 90.