Reforms Needed - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Exonerated of Rape Conviction, Man Is Freed After 26 Years

Submitted by Chipper, Jan 4, 2008 16:17

I simply do not trust police or prosecutors blindly. We need reforms. Evidence should be preserved for at least 100 years after a crime. Police interviews should always be videotaped when possible, at least audiotaped when not. Transcripts of grand jury proceedings should be made and kept (Nifong anyone?). Crime labs must use only scientifically verifiable and accepted methods with full disclosure of testing procedures. The bar should be set high for new forms of admissible evidence (how many went to jail on bite mark 'evidence'). Any prosecutor or police officer/official should be held criminally and civilly liable for any intentional subversions of justice (high bar here, I can see defense attorneys filing frivolous lawsuits left and right). It's time for DNA evidence which exists in old cases be tested without regard to expense.

The State has the awesome power to deprive an individual of his life and liberty. We must ensure this power is used responsibly and ethically. To do otherwise frightens this conservative.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I am not suprised about this article becaUse it is happening all over our nations particulary to the poor who... [MORE]	firefighterb	Jan 9, 2008 20:14
I find it difficult to understand why the State should not be liable for very severe financial damages - in... [MORE]	Victor Galindo	Jan 6, 2008 15:06
Hey, does anybody know if wrongfully convicted people are compensated? A bunch of money isn't going to give somebody back... [MORE]	Matt	Jan 6, 2008 12:40
Unless she was raped by two men and only one ejaculated, then mismatched DNA does indeed mean innocent (although the... [MORE]	Tom	Jan 5, 2008 13:16
So once again we realize many years later than some women lied and falsely accused some innocent man of raping... [MORE]	Kevin	Jan 4, 2008 20:10
Perhaps this woman thought she identified the right man, I'm not defending her because this type of identification (relying of... [MORE]	Nancy	Jan 6, 2008 10:56
The article portrays this case as a racially biased, or even racist, jury and an overzealous and possibly racist prosecutor... [MORE]	Ben	Jan 4, 2008 16:49
I simply do not trust police or prosecutors blindly. We need reforms. Evidence should be preserved for at least 100...	Chipper	Jan 4, 2008 16:17
Everything wrong with government today, and all of its facets, is directly attributable to politicians who have 'served' before today.... [MORE]	Willys	Jan 4, 2008 10:44
Anybody heard anything from the woman who identified him? [MORE]	Richard Aubrey	Jan 4, 2008 10:42