Since 1973, 127 people have been released and exonerated from death row based on new findings of innocence. As of February 2008, there are 3,263 inmates sitting on death row awaiting execution. Many experts say there are a number of reasons why mistakes occur during capital cases:
- pressure to solve cases
- lack of eyewitness testimony
- heightened publicity
- limited resources
- death qualified jurors (meaning they would impose the death penalty)
- heinousness of case
Unfortunately many inmates who remain on death row are still trying to prove their innocence. Yet most people do not understand the appeal process. An inmate cannot appeal simply because he/she feels the verdict was wrong, it must be an error in the process of the case. Also, in many states their is a time limit on when an inmate can appeal his/her case if new evidence comes to light.
Along with the 127 people exonerated since 1973, an additional 11 people have been released, yet not exonerated fro, death row due to probable innocence.
With all these innocent inmates, why still have the death penalty in place? One can be easily release from prison if the conviction is overturned. Yet no one can be brought back to life after being executed if evidence proves innocence.
Some inmates have been in partnership with the Innocence Project, trying to plead their case. The Innocence Project fights to exonerate innocent inmates through post-conviction DNA testing. Every year, the Innocence Project gets over 2,400 requests from inmates. From there they investigate cases and choose which can have DNA testing which can possibly prove innocence.
