More on the wrongfully convicted
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- February
- 13
One suggestion that arose at a hearing this morning on how to avoid wrongful convictions was to take DNA samples when a person is arrested, not when he or she was convicted.
Al Newton of the Bronx, imprisoned for 22 years for a rape he did not commit, was not in favor of the change. That’s not surprising. He was told repeatedly that evidence collected in connection with the rape had been lost. It was not. When it finally was found he was exonerated.
“Because of my experience with the system, I believe DNA should be taken upon conviction,” he told a task force from the New York State Bar Association. “There’s no assurance that DNA won’t be used in an improper manner.”
What if the DNA were to be destroyed should the person be released, or ultimately not found guilty? he was asked.
Newton maintained his position. If the New York Police Department failed to find his DNA, what assurances could it give that it had destroyed DNA?
This entry was posted
on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pm by Noreen O'Donnell.
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