Once a person has a criminal defense lawyer, the government should only communicate through that lawyer. It should never go behind the lawyer’s back and attempt to continue to interrogate the client. Doing so is a violation of the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel in...
jailhouse informants
Minnesota AG pushes for limits on jailhouse witness testimony
As a result of the protests after George Floyd’s murder, the state of Minnesota and many other governments have been making changes to our criminal justice system. The changes are intended to make the system more fair, transparent, accurate and just. One of the...
Alabama DA reviews death penalty case, finds obvious problems
District attorneys around the U.S. are reviewing past convictions for evidence that they were wrongful. Unfortunately, there are many situations that can lead to wrongful convictions. Recently, the DA for Jefferson County, Alabama, reviewed Toforest Johnson’s...
Curtis Flowers, tried 6 times for murder, finally set free
The state of Mississippi tried Curtis Flowers for murder six times. He was convicted in four trials, while another two ended in mistrials. Yet each of the convictions was overturned. In 2010, after his sixth trial, Flowers was given the death penalty. In June of 2019,...
‘Perfect storm’ of injustice overturned in wrongful conviction
"Theophalis Wilson, you are free to go," said a Philadelphia judge recently. She was releasing a man who has been exonerated of the three 1989 killings he was convicted of as a teenager.According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, the case was a "perfect...
Jailhouse informants lie. Should they be allowed to testify?
A jailhouse informant is rarely someone who just wants to help. Jails and prisons have a strong anti-snitching culture, so passing along information to prosecutors is a choice that could get you in serious trouble. People don't inform on other prisoners to be solid...