Innocence

 Project  Research  Document       Name:  ______________________________  Per:  ______  

 
Understanding  the  Causes  of  Wrongful  Convictions    
There  are  6  general  causes  of  wrongful  convictions.    Read  about  and  summarize  each  reason  and  include  a  
real  life  example  where  this  particular  cause  was  the  reason  for  the  wrongful  conviction.  
   
1)    
 
 
 
 
 
 
2)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
3)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
4)    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5)    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fix  The  System  
There  are  multiple  strong  arguments  for  how  to  address  and  correct  for  the  reasons  cited  for  wrongful  
convictions.    Read  about  these,  then  choose  TWO  to  focus  on.    Summarize  the  two  suggested  solutions  and  
how  it  is  believed  they  will  help  reduce  the  number  of  wrongful  convictions.  
 
1)    
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2)    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Know  the  Cases  
Browse  the  case  profiles  from  the  files  of  the  Innocence  Project  and  find  one  of  interest  to  you.    As  you  are  
reading,  document  the  details  of  the  case  so  that  you  will  be  able  to  develop  a  thorough  and  accurate  
presentation  to  share  with  the  class.  
 
MY  CASE  PROFILE  ABOUT:  ______________________________________________________________________________________  
 
Year  convicted:  ____________________     Year  Exonerated:  __________________  
 
Type  of  Crime  Involved:  _________________________________________________________________________________________  
 
State  Where  Convicted:    ___________________________________      Time  Spent  in  Prison:  ___________________________  
 
Details  about  the  victim  of  the  crime:    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Details  about  the  crime:  
(what  happened,  where  did  it  happen,  who  was  involved,  why  did  it  happen  etc)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Major  reason  or  evidence  that  likely  resulted  in  the  conviction  (think  back  to  the  major  reasons  for  wrongful  
convictions)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How  the  conviction  was  overturned:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Was  the  wrongfully  convicted  person  compensated?    Do  you  think  it  was  appropriate  or  not?    Explain  your  
reasoning.