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Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

innocenceproject.org

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Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#41

Post by ARandomerDude »

codezero wrote: post #8
stefan_ wrote: post #5

> Ms. Haddaway had demanded that the state dismiss unrelated drug charges against her grandson in exchange for her testimony against Mr. Smith and Mr. Faulkner. The recordings also show that the state refused to place that deal in writing to prevent Ms. Haddaway from being cross-examined on the issue. The state, in fact, dismissed the charges three days before Mr. Andrews’s trial was scheduled to begin. So they didn'…

The story behind a lot of these innocence project stories is one of corruption and/or incompetence. We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown.

Let me tell you about a guy named Derek Chauvin...

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#42

Post by [deleted] »

ARandomerDude wrote: post #41
codezero wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The story behind a lot of these innocence project stories is one of corruption and/or incompetence. We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown.

Let me tell you about a guy named Derek Chauvin...

[deleted]

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#43

Post by ARandomerDude »

suifbwish wrote: post #22
boomboomsubban wrote: post #10

On top of all the other bullshit, his trial was thrown out a year ago but they still forced him to spend the pandemic locked up because... there's no reason given.

If any single person in the US is justified to go on a vandalism rampage it’s him.

Wait, what? Being exonerated after a conviction justifies damaging or destroying your uninvolved neighbor's property? Please explain.

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#45

Post by sthnblllII »

suifbwish wrote: post #22
boomboomsubban wrote: post #10

On top of all the other bullshit, his trial was thrown out a year ago but they still forced him to spend the pandemic locked up because... there's no reason given.

If any single person in the US is justified to go on a vandalism rampage it’s him.

Who is justified in getting his property vandalized, and who actually will?

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#46

Post by agogdog »

ARandomerDude wrote: post #41
codezero wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The story behind a lot of these innocence project stories is one of corruption and/or incompetence. We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown.

Let me tell you about a guy named Derek Chauvin...

When people make comments like this do they seriously think providing a single example tears down the concept of systemic issues?

This is a "it snowed today, so global warming doesn't exist" type of comment.

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#47

Post by codezero »

ARandomerDude wrote: post #41
codezero wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The story behind a lot of these innocence project stories is one of corruption and/or incompetence. We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown.

Let me tell you about a guy named Derek Chauvin...

What would you like to tell me? I’m listening.

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#48

Post by codezero »

agogdog wrote: post #46
ARandomerDude wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me tell you about a guy named Derek Chauvin...

When people make comments like this do they seriously think providing a single example tears down the concept of systemic issues? This is a "it snowed today, so global warming doesn't exist" type of comment.

No, this is a troll looking to diminish the value of this community. Best move is not to comment or engage in the future. Downvote and/or flag. Or contact dang at HN moderation.

Or, ask curious questions. Trolls hate curious questions.

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#49

Post by codezero »

monoideism wrote: post #34
codezero wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The story behind a lot of these innocence project stories is one of corruption and/or incompetence. We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown.

> We don’t punish those things too hard in the US unless the target is poor or brown. Absolutely, which is why Bernie Madoff died a free man.

I’m confused. Bernie Madoff died in prison. Can you clarify your comment? How is it relevant to this thread?

His punishment, compared to the economic and personal impact of his crimes was very light in general terms. Try again.

Re: Jonathan Smith walks free after 21 years of wrongful imprisonment

#50

Post by AmericanChopper »

apazzolini wrote: post #14
pstuart wrote: post #2

Prosecutorial misconduct like that should be punished severely -- there needs to be accountability for destroying other people's lives.

IMO the only fair solution is their own incarceration for the equal number of days, but the only real consequence will be a slap on the wrist. Notable cunt Annie Dookhan[0] is responsible for putting up to 40,000 innocent people in jail by falsifying DNA records for the Massachusetts state AG. Over 21,000 cases have already been dropped. Her punishment? 3 years. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Dookhan

I think defendants should be compensated for fees and other damages for any level of failed prosecution, especially if they end up wrongfully incarcerated. If abusing the justice system has to come out of the budget, I think most of the incentives to do so will start to disappear.
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