An Examination of 2015 Controlled Substance Exonerations in Harris County

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

In the last decade numerous organizations and agencies have begun a process of reviewing evidence (both physical and testimonial) that has lead to the exoneration of hundreds of wrongly accused or improperly charged defendants. The data presented narrowly focuses on those defendants, who were charged with possession or sale of a controlled substance in Harris County, Texas and were subsequently exonerated in 2015. This descriptive analysis provides demographic information on the exonerees, the amount of time served and sentence, as well as the factors contributing to the original conviction. Issues with testing and evidence collection of controlled substances will be examined. Current policies and practices within the Harris County District Attorney’s Office specific to exoneration will be reviewed.

Authors

• Keith Edward Satterwhite, Independent Researcher

• Elizabeth Gilmore, Prairie View A&M University