Day 1
In 2021, the textbook said official misconduct contributed to the conviction in 55% of exoneration cases. What is that number today? Has it gone up or down? How would you find this information?
Is official misconduct more and less common in convictions for certain crimes? How would you find this information? What is your explanation for this?
Is official misconduct more and less common for exonerees of different races? How would you find this information?
Do any states appear to have especially high levels of official misconduct? How would you find this information? What is your explanation for this?
Look up the Larry Youngblood case in the Registry:
Did Youngblood know that the DNA would prove his innocence when he appealed his conviction on the grounds that the police failure to preserve the evidence violated his rights?
Describe, in bullet points, Larry Youngblood's journey through the courts in terms of the different kinds of courts we learned about (i.e., trial courts and appellate courts; state courts and federal courts)
Would you say that Youngblood won his case or lost it? Explain the arguments for both conclusions.
Look up the John Thompson case(s) in the Registry
Why does he have 2 entries in the Registry?
What was the "Brady violation" in his case?
How can the US Supreme Court reverse the award to money to Thompson. Does this seem fair? What are the arguments for and against?
Day 2
Group (or mass) Exonerations: How does the Registry keep track of "group" or "mass" exonerations? Where do you find it? Can you find the Watts cases discussed in the New Yorker article? How are the cases named? How is the information compiled about "group exonerations" different from the information about "individual exonerations"?
The New Yorker article said in 2018 that 32 people wrongly convicted by Sergeant Watts had been exonerated. How many have been exonerated now?
Pick any "Watts" exoneration case. What happened? What did you learn about Watts's methods that you didn't already know? Did the defendant go to trial or plead guilty? Why might they have made that decision? What were the reasons for and against the decision? How do you think the decision affected the defendant's sentence?
Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs): How many exonerations have conviction integrity units contributed to? In total? In the most recent year? Has the number changed over time? Are there patterns by state? (Those last 2 are tough questions. Don't spend too much time on them.) How would you find this information? What is your explanation for this?
Pick a CIU, any CIU, from the list of CIUs with recorded exonerations. Read the sample case linked for the CIU. Identify the case. How important was the CIU's involvment in the case? What do you think would have happened without the CIU? Follow the link to the CIUs home page. How would you rate the way the CIU communicates with the public. If you were a family member of a wrongly convicted person (living under the kind of stresses Clarissa Baker was living under, for example), would you feel able to get help from this CIU?
Full Answer Section
Official Misconduct by Race
Studies have shown that racial bias can play a role in wrongful convictions. To determine if official misconduct is more common for exonerees of different races, I would analyze the data in the National Registry of Exonerations, focusing on the race of the exoneree and the nature of the official misconduct involved.
States with High Levels of Official Misconduct
To identify states with high levels of official misconduct, I would analyze the data in the National Registry of Exonerations and calculate the rate of exonerations due to official misconduct for each state. States with higher rates of exonerations may indicate a systemic problem with official misconduct.
Larry Youngblood Case
- Knowledge of DNA Evidence: It is unclear whether Larry Youngblood knew that DNA evidence could prove his innocence at the time of his appeal. However, his legal team likely recognized the potential significance of DNA testing and pursued the appeal on those grounds.
- Court Journey: Youngblood's case likely involved multiple levels of the court system, including trial courts, appellate courts, and potentially the state supreme court. If his conviction was overturned based on the DNA evidence, the case may have also been reviewed by federal courts.
- Winning or Losing: Arguably, Youngblood "won" his case as his conviction was overturned based on the new evidence. However, the emotional and psychological toll of wrongful imprisonment cannot be ignored. The arguments for and against his "victory" may focus on the justice system's failures and the challenges faced by exonerees in rebuilding their lives.
Day 2: Group Exonerations and Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs)
Group Exonerations
The National Registry of Exonerations maintains a database of group exonerations, which are cases where multiple individuals are wrongfully convicted for the same crime. The information on group exonerations is typically compiled in a similar manner to individual exonerations, with details about the case, the individuals exonerated, and the reasons for the wrongful convictions.
Watts Cases
The Registry likely includes information on the Watts cases discussed in the New Yorker article. The cases are likely named after the individuals who were wrongfully convicted by Sergeant Watts. The information about group exonerations may be presented in a separate section or database within the Registry.
Number of Exonerations
The number of exonerations attributed to Sergeant Watts may have increased since 2018. To find the current number, you would need to search the National Registry of Exonerations and filter the results for cases involving Watts.
CIU Exonerations
Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs) have contributed to a significant number of exonerations. To find the total number of exonerations attributed to CIUs, you would need to analyze the data in the National Registry of Exonerations and identify cases where a CIU was involved.
State-Level Patterns
There may be patterns in the number of exonerations attributed to CIUs by state. This could be due to factors such as the prevalence of wrongful convictions in certain regions, the resources and effectiveness of CIUs, and the legal and political climate in each state.
Sample CIU Case
To analyze a sample CIU case, you can visit the website of a specific CIU and read the case summaries provided. The CIU's involvement may have been crucial in identifying new evidence, uncovering prosecutorial misconduct, or advocating for the exoneree. Without the CIU's intervention, the individual may have remained incarcerated.
Public Communication
The effectiveness of a CIU's communication with the public can vary. Some CIUs may have dedicated public relations teams or websites that provide information about their work and the cases they have handled. Others may have limited public outreach efforts.
If you were a family member of a wrongly convicted person, the level of communication and support provided by the CIU would be crucial. A CIU that is responsive, transparent, and supportive can be invaluable in helping families navigate the legal system and seek justice.
Sample Answer
Day 1: Individual Exonerations
Official Misconduct in Exoneration Cases
While the exact percentage of exonerations due to official misconduct may have fluctuated since 2021, it remains a significant contributing factor. To find the current percentage, I would consult the National Registry of Exonerations and analyze the data for recent cases.
Official Misconduct by Crime Type
Official misconduct can be more or less common for certain crimes. For example, in cases involving drug possession or sale, official misconduct may be more prevalent due to factors such as racial profiling and law enforcement bias. To investigate this, I would analyze the data in the National Registry of Exonerations, categorizing cases by crime type and identifying patterns of official misconduct.