Understanding and preventing wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system

• In Event: Emerging Issues in Sentencing Research

Abstract

Wrongful conviction refers to the situation in which people are wrongly punished by the justice system for a crime they did not commit. The major factors that lead to wrongful convictions include false witness testimonies, flawed evidence assessments, law enforcement and prosecutorial errors, unconscious or intentional legal practices, and systemic biases. This paper is intended to enhance the right to a fair trial by discussing the causes and impacts of wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system and how they can be avoided. In the course of the study, the need for change in the justice system is stressed and the measures that should be taken in order to support the principle of the rule of law are outlined. In this sense, it can be highlighted that changes in forensic science and law enforcement practices are essential to decrease the number of wrongful convictions. The research also recommends more transparent and comprehensive analysis of the data on wrongful convictions, and their integration into reform processes. It aims at identifying efficient measures that can be taken in order to avoid wrongful convictions and recommendations for improving the credibility of the justice system. Wrongful conviction is a very significant problem not only for justice but also for the society, the society’s conscience, the credibility of justice and public safety.

Author

• Melda Yazıcıoğlu, Üsküdar University Forensic Sciences