Welcome back. We’ve been talking about the subject of wrongful convictions and how they sometimes result from false allegations of abuse. As such, we have been looking at the six most common causes of wrongful convictions, according to the University of Michigan Innocence Clinic. We know that not all of these instances relate to child abuse cases, but there are a number of issues that feature regularly in abuse and neglect cases here in Michigan.
In the previous article we discussed false confessions, junk science, and eyewitness testimony. Moving on we are going to wrap up the list with the last three – snitching, government misconduct and poor legal representation. Our hope is that you will be informed and aware, so that if you should ever face false allegations of abuse in the future, you will be prepared to make sound decisions.
“Snitching”:
If you’ve ever watched a crime drama (Law and Order SVU, anyone?), then you’ve heard of snitches – people who provide testimony against someone else in return for something they want. A ‘jailhouse snitch’ is someone who claims to have heard someone discussing the crime they’re accused of, or making a confession, after they’ve been arrested and are awaiting trial and sentencing. A jailhouse snitch will usually testify against someone else in return for a reduced sentence, or some other benefit that will make their time in jail more pleasant. Others, not in jail, will provide incriminating testimony in return for money or other favors. In most cases, the incentives are not revealed to the jury, which makes the snitch seem like a more reliable witness than they really are.
Government Misconduct:
Occasionally, government officials will push a case through in order to gain the conviction they want, despite shaky evidence or even clear proof of innocence. This can happen in the form of prosecutorial misconduct, police misconduct, withholding evidence that is favorable to the accused, fraud, evidence tampering, and intentional negligence. We tend to see this most when it comes to CPS. Unwilling to admit a mistake, CPS workers will twist the truth, misrepresent a defendant’s statements, and intentionally misinterpret facts in order to support their case.
Poor Legal Representation:
Whether it’s a court appointed attorney who only meets with their client minutes before the hearing begins, or worse – doesn’t even show up! Or an overworked attorney who can’t keep up with the cases assigned to them – bad lawyering accounts for a surprising amount of wrongful convictions. This last one is a major issue. We cannot stress to you enough the importance of having a good defense attorney. Someone with experience handling abuse and neglect cases is critical to your success! Someone with access to the best expert witnesses, investigators, and researchers. In other words – an abuse and neglect defense attorney from The Kronzek Firm. So call us today at 866 766 5245. We have been doing this for a very long time, and we are very good at it. Don’t settle for anything less! The right attorney is critical.
So if you or a loved one have been falsely accused of child abuse or neglect, it is critical that you contact us immediately at 866 766 5245. The skilled attorneys at The Kronzek Firm have spent decades defending parents and caregivers accused of abusing and neglecting children. We know what you are up against and we can help you through it. Don’t wait, your future is at stake, and the sooner you start fighting for it, the better your chances of success!