Exoneration: Criminal Law, Theories of Punishment, and Victimization

Use the topic above to write a 5-page paper (5-pages is the minimum and 7-pages
is the maximum) using the quote, poll, and questions below to frame your paper. You are
expected to apply what was examined and discussed in this course during the term as
the backdrop for your analysis of the research paper. While your paper should not be
limited to the questions below, you are required to include a response to each of the
questions to your paper (in the order you desire).
(1) In a 1993 Gallup Poll, respondents were asked whether they agreed with the
following statement, “It is better for society to let some guilty people go free than to
risk convicting an innocent person.”
a. The results: 41% agreed (strongly or somewhat); 56% disagreed
(strongly or somewhat).
(2) Central Park Five (also known as the Central Park Jogger Case)
With the above poll and quote and the case and follow-up results of the Central Park Five
story/case in mind, consider the following questions.
1. With the number of exoneration cases increasing over the last 25 years since the
cited 1993 Gallop Poll, would the results of the original poll be different in 2018?
Why or why not?
2. What (if any) impact has the Central Park Five case had on society’s trust for the
Criminal Justice System (not just law enforcement?)
3. Would the results of the poll be impacted by the recent publicized police involved
shootings?
4. Who are the victims in exoneration cases (i.e. the crime victim, the wrongly
accused/convicted, the criminal justice system, society)?
5. Is justice served for the initial crime victim when it is subsequently determined that
the wrong person was convicted?
6. Should compensation be automatically awarded to individuals that are
exonerated? Who should be responsible for paying financial damages as a result
of a wrongful conviction?

7. Although the majority of cases that result in exoneration involve DNA evidence,
what happens to criminal cases where the defendant is declaring his/her
innocence and there is NO DNA evidence in the case to potentially exonerate (i.e.
eyewitness misidentification of a suspect and others)?
8. How are the theories of punishment impacted by exoneration cases?
9. What are the major causes of wrongful convictions and what can be done (if
anything) to prevent the increase in wrongful convictions?
10.What is the difference between how the federal government handles wrongful
convictions versus the states? Pick a state and compare and contrast how that
state handles wrongful conviction lawsuits, versus the federal government.
The paper should not be an abstract one. This, of necessity, requires creativity, not mere
regurgitation of something you read up. I expect you to prioritize literature and events that
relate to or impact Florida. When you write your paper it is imperative that you also
demonstrate your awareness of opposing or alternative ideas or approaches to the
problem, and then explain why you think that your proposed approach is the most
appropriate. Your paper must use APA formatting ONLY. The NSU library site has
links to APA tutorials. Failure to follow APA guidelines will lower your grade.
The paper should be double spaced, properly formatted, and the body of the paper
not be shorter than the stipulated number of pages, (in this case, 5-five pages). Cover,
abstract, reference pages, etc. do not count for purposes of the length of paper. It must
have pagination (pages should be consecutively numbered at the bottom-in Word click
on the Insert icon to insert page numbers.) You should have at least ten references from
academic journals/texts. Wikipedia is NOT an academic source. All and any references
from the course texts will together only count as one, so you need to get external
references.
Finally, I also want you to certify that this is your own original work, and further
that it is not going to be, nor has it previously been submitted, for credit for another
course anywhere else. If, using the tools available to me, (including Turnitin.com, to
which you must submit your paper) I find out that this is not your own work, for instance,
that you have purchased it online, or copied it off somewhere, you will not get credit for
the paper, and I will be forced to initiate disciplinary proceedings commensurate with
University Policy. The mid-term writing assignment is due, Sunday, June 3, 2018
by 11:59PM.

Answer Preview…………

The number of exoneration cases continues to increase, and this means there is need to focus on the conviction measures and the involvement in the number of crimes in the society. There increase the need to have justice for the people that are convicted wrongfully, and this involves focusing on the crimes committed and the penalties issues. The focus on the reduction of the exoneration cases is essential, and this implies the increase in integrity in the conviction process. The prosecutors have the right to examine the different information that guides the need to focus on the evidence provided in the cases and this will help in the management cases and the analysis of the changes that continue to take place in the justice system. The analysis of the perceptions in the criminal justice system is vital as there is focus on the witnesses and the activists that help in the management in the justice process and making sure that people are charged from the crimes committed…………..

APA 1968 words