DNA evidence has been incredibly helpful, not only in solving crimes but also in exonerating those who have been falsely convicted. Hundreds of people have been released from prison after being wrongfully convicted, as DNA evidence has proven their innocence.
Interestingly, research into these cases shows that most wrongful convictions involve inaccurate eyewitness testimonies. For example, an eyewitness may claim to have seen the defendant at the scene of the crime, but it turns out the defendant was nowhere near the crime scene. These eyewitness mistakes can have significant ramifications for those who are convicted, and logically, there are likely many people still behind bars who haven’t yet been cleared with DNA evidence.
Why does this happen?
Eyewitness mistakes occur for numerous reasons. For one, people’s memories can change over time. An eyewitness might think their memory is accurate when, in reality, it isn’t. It has been altered by things they’ve heard or read.
Another issue is that the criminal event may have happened very quickly, and the eyewitness may have been distracted. For instance, someone might focus on a weapon the defendant is holding, meaning they don’t actually get a clear look at the defendant’s face, even if they were standing right in front of them.
In other cases, eyewitnesses may simply misinterpret what they saw because they didn’t observe the details as clearly as they thought. Perhaps they didn’t have a good vantage point, or maybe they were far away from the scene of the crime. The eyewitness doesn’t realize they’re making a mistake, but the error can still lead to a wrongful conviction.
Exoneration cases show why it is so critical for those facing criminal allegations to understand all of the defense options available to them. The justice system does make mistakes, and it’s vital to work with an experienced legal team to help ensure the best possible outcome.