Prosecutor - Justice or Convictions?

It is often a question of what our district attorney's and other prosecutors' goals are. Convicting someone and providing justice can be two very different outcomes. When a DA ignores or covers up exonerating evidence it does not bode well for our justice system. As with any other job, the metrics that you are graded on drives your actions. A DA does not get a plus for releasing innocent people or reopening cases that have new evidence. The only way an assistant DA gets the top job or a DA become a judge or other political figure is to keep wining cases that have gone through indictment.

One of the most troubling examples of prosecutor misconduct is ignoring or covering up DNA evidence that exonerates suspects. A recent example is Michael Mermel at Illinois State Attorney Office dismissing DNA evidence time after time. The last one in the article is the most troubling when he said that DNA other than their target made inside a 8 year old girl because she played in woods where people were known to have sex. COME ON!

Prosecutors like these keep our justice system mired in the dark ages while the public even understands these issues due to the proliferation of shows like C.S.I. There are numerous examples and studies that show how eyewitness testimony is the worst type of evidence to convict someone on. We have all played games as children such as "Telephone" where we realize what we hear is not always what was spoken. The same applies to what we see.

We must make sure that our prosecutors are accountable to their decisions. While the judiciary branch of our government is often given third billing, it has one of the most important functions in our country as the only organization that can deprive us of freedom, property, and our security.

Keeping the judiciary branch in check and reporting on immergences of abuse are many organization such has the ACLU, The Innocence Project, Radley Balko of Reason Magazine & Fox News, and many others.

it seems to always come to who should have the power.....a person that gets pulled over with a little pot or whatever might just get a warning and sent on their way OR they could end up in jail for years all depending on the FEELINGS of few....

We have definitely seen it within our own justice department as we have seen the Justice Department go after special interest cases to promote Republican party goals.

BTW My favorite writer's blog has a poll going to see who is the worst prosecutor of the year. Link below.

WPOTY

dude that's sweet lol i know a lot of times they're thinking about who and how to prosecute based on the idea that it would help THEM in a election...ie the plot of so many crappy movies....but that's REALLY how it works! it seems that the system is flawed in its design not in it's operation.....