Today, October 2, is Wrongful Conviction Day. Over 2,400 people have been exonerated in the United States since 1989, but we know the problem of wrongful convictions is much bigger. It’s a human system and with millions of people incarcerated around the world, the volume is simply too high to ensure accuracy.
So what can we do to right these wrongs? There are many human factors that contribute to wrongful convictions, whether it’s the way our minds store memories or the biases we all hold. Educate yourself by checking out this video series on the impact of human factors in criminal investigations, and then sign the pledge to encourage stakeholders from all corners of the criminal justice community to do the same.
Check out iwcd.org to find even more ways you can make an impact:
- Write a letter on behalf of a wrongfully convicted person
- Help spread the message on social media alongside our friends at the NBA with #WrongfulConvictionDay.
We’re all human. Today, let’s use our voices to help end wrongful convictions.
Learn more about the six main causes of wrongful convictions through stories of MAIP’s clients: