Institutional Betrayal as a Framework for the Victims of Wrongful Conviction

• In Event: Harming instead of Helping: Institutional Betrayal, Trauma and Total Institutions

Abstract

According to the University of Michigan, National Registry of Exonerations, we have 3,488 exonerations throughout the United States since 1989. Wrongful convictions have become a key area of justice reform movements and many states have implemented conviction integrity units to review the backlog of criminal cases. Thousands of exonerated citizens are filing various legal actions due to the violations of their civil rights. Many of these cases discuss how the wrongfully convicted may have developed mental health disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and distrust of criminal justice system actors such as police, prosecutors, and correctional staff. This distrust of government officials may have broader implications for the literature on institutional betrayal. Freyd and Smith, describe institutional betrayal as a phenomenon where institutions, such as universities, the military, corporations, or any organization, fail to support and protect the well-being of their members, especially in response to reports of harassment, abuse, or other forms of misconduct within the institution. This concept emphasizes the role of systemic issues in exacerbating the harm experienced by victims, contributing to feelings of betrayal, mistrust, and trauma. An exploration of how institutional betrayal may correlate to mental health issues in exonerees will be explored.

Author

• Aaron Kinzel, University of Michigan-Dearborn