Eyewitness identification is a deeply flawed practice. Adding facial recognition technology, with its veneer of objectivity, only worsens the crisis of mass incarceration.

Is Texas about to execute an innocent man? Lester Holt examines Robert Roberson's controversial death row case.

The Seattle Police Department's Behind the Badge program aims to help recruits understand communities they serve and combat the warrior-vs.-guardian binary.

The administration’s plans to fight crime by dictating state bail policy or deploying the National Guard won’t build long-term safety, but there are many evidence-based ways to reduce crime.

Objectives Estimate the frequency of self-reported factual innocence in non-capital cases within a state population of prisoners. Methods We conducted a survey of a population sample of state prisoners who were asked to anonymously report their involvement in the crimes for which they were most recently convicted. To assess the validity of verifiable responses, prisoner self-report data were compared to aggregate conviction and demographic information derived from administrative records. To assess the validity of unverifiable responses, we developed a non-parametric test to estimate the probability of false innocence claims. Results We estimate that wrongful convictions occur in 6% of criminal convictions leading to imprisonment in an intake population of state prisoners. This estimate masks a considerable degree of conviction-specific variability ranging from a low of 2% in DUI convictions to a high of 40% in rape convictions. Implausible or false innocence claims are estimated to occur in 2% of cases. Conclusions The present investigation demonstrates that survey methods can provide bounded estimates of factual innocence claims within a discrete and known population. The resulting estimates, the first to formally separate claims of legal and factual innocence and to incorporate a formal measure of response plausibility, suggest that prisoners themselves are very often willing to self-report the correctness of their convictions. At the same time, a considerable minority indicate that procedural weaknesses with the administration of justice occurred in their cases. And, a distinct minority, with considerable offense variation, maintain that they are completely innocent of the charges against them.

Objectives Estimate the frequency of self-reported factual innocence in non-capital cases within a state population of prisoners. Methods We conducted a survey of a population sample of state prisoners who were asked to anonymously report their involvement in the crimes for which they were most recently convicted. To assess the validity of verifiable responses, prisoner self-report data were compared to aggregate conviction and demographic information derived from administrative records. To assess the validity of unverifiable responses, we developed a non-parametric test to estimate the probability of false innocence claims. Results We estimate that wrongful convictions occur in 6% of criminal convictions leading to imprisonment in an intake population of state prisoners. This estimate masks a considerable degree of conviction-specific variability ranging from a low of 2% in DUI convictions to a high of 40% in rape convictions. Implausible or false innocence claims are estimated to occur in 2% of cases. Conclusions The present investigation demonstrates that survey methods can provide bounded estimates of factual innocence claims within a discrete and known population. The resulting estimates, the first to formally separate claims of legal and factual innocence and to incorporate a formal measure of response plausibility, suggest that prisoners themselves are very often willing to self-report the correctness of their convictions. At the same time, a considerable minority indicate that procedural weaknesses with the administration of justice occurred in their cases. And, a distinct minority, with considerable offense variation, maintain that they are completely innocent of the charges against them.

Podcast Episode · The Jeff-alytics Podcast · 01/10/2025 · 45m

Episode 0 is here! Episode 1 drops next Wednesday!

Established in 1869, Notre Dame Law School is the oldest Catholic law school in the United States. The Law School’s approach to legal education is informed and inspired by faith. Students are trained ...

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer commuted William Hunt's life sentence in July, an early release for a crime he says he didn't commit.

“A haunting true crime tale of systemic incompetence and racism” (New York Times) – and its devastating effect on innocent lives After two three-year-o...

Alabama said Charles McCrory could leave prison if he just admitted he killed his wife four decades ago. He refuses.

The looming execution date for Robert Roberson is less than a month away, set for Oct. 16. If Roberson’s execution is not stayed, he will be the first person executed

The city of Chicago announced a $90 million global settlement for 176 police misconduct lawsuits connected to disgraced former Chicago Police Department Sergeant Ronald Watts Thursday.

A new federal law allowing incarcerated individuals to access Pell Grants has created new educational opportunities. Jonathan Roden, a former prisoner who, after serving 23 years, is now back inside a...