Reference no: EM133784874

Innocence Project or Trial Paper

General Instructions

Unfortunately, wrongful convictions of innocent suspects occur more often than we would like to think. The Innocence Project is an organization that works to help exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals. Students are to go to the Innocence Project website www.innocenceproject.org and select an individual has been exonerated after serving time for a crime they did not commit. The cases of Steven Avery and Ronald Cotton may not be selected either because they have been highly publicized in the form of television shows and interviews. Students will be expected to write a paper based on this case, so please ensure that you have selected a case for which you can write about the following aspects.

First, students should research the background of the case and provide a summary of the crime committed, the evidence collected by the police, how the exoneree because a suspect in this crime, and the sentence given. Basically, this section should be a brief summary of what happened prior to the Innocence Project becoming involved. This section should be no less than two paragraphs in length.

Students should then select three or more aspects of the investigation, interrogation, evidence, or trial that you believe may have contributed to the wrongful conviction. Students should discuss the use of this information and any flaws you have identified in the use of the techniques you have chosen. Special attention should be given to topics discussed in class such as: eyewitness testimony, conflicts between psychology and the law, interrogations, confessions, memory, plea bargains, jury trials, as well as competency or sanity if relevant. Students may also incorporate a discussion of other key issues as long as they do the research to back up their opinions about these issues and this is not the main section of the paper. If you have trouble identifying three key issues as they pertain to a case, you should select another case.

Finally, students should discuss, considering what they have identified above, ways in which the system or police station could improve to ensure that a wrongful conviction like the one you have researched can be avoided in the future. Do not just list the changes you would make, rather ensure that you are discussing why you believe these changes will assist police in identifying and convicting the correct individuals while lessening the chances of a wrongful conviction.

Alternatively, if you would like to attend a jury trial instead of selecting an Innocence Project case, you may do so and should reach out to me regarding the case you choose. The requirements are otherwise the same, with exception of discussing exoneration.

Assignments must be no more than double-spaced 4 pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages. Papers must be written clearly and concisely, and in full sentences with proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. I will stop reading your paper after 4 pages and grade only the content presented in those four pages.

Papers must be written using APA formatting. This includes margin sizes, font size and spacing, and title and reference page requirements. If you are unfamiliar with these formatting standards, or need a refresher, the following website is a great source to use for this information.