Wrongful Convictions

Essay # 102723

This paper discusses the problem of wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system especially in Canada and specifies two cases.

2,835 words () | 11 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper stresses that the criminal justice system is a form of theater in its subjective flourishes, which can very much alter what happens to the accused. The author points out that an innocent person can be falsely convicted and spend years in a correctional institution based on his looks and behaviors. The paper relates that Stephen Truscott's wrongful conviction demonstrates the absurdity of what can go wrong when an innocent man refuses to confess to a crime he did not commit. The author underscores that the issue of wrongful accusation and conviction points to possible errors by the police, the courts and the handling of evidence. The paper urges that this issue should be examined in the context of Canadian civil culture, which disdains the criminal, especially in cases where the accused is allegedly responsible for sexual offenses and homicides involving children.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Stephen Truscott's Failure to Demonstrate Remorse
Culture and Criminality
The Wrongful Conviction of Guy Paul Morin
Implications

From the Paper:

"In October of 1984, Morin was falsely accused of the still unsolved sex murder of 9 year-old Christine Jessop, his next-door neighbor" in Queensville, Ontario. Morin was then aged 25. When Jessop was reported missing, the Durham Regional Police responded and questioned members of the Morin family. It was observed that Guy Paul Morin showed no reaction, looking ahead, as was noted by police as suspicious. This reaction however is seen as one of several typical if unexpected reactions to police questioning, part of what Gudjonsson analyzed as part of the psychology of interrogations, of all kinds, as may produce extreme evasion or non-acceptance that a crime has taken place, as well as unwanted false confessions."

Sample of Sources Used:

Armbrust, S. (2003). Note - When Money Isn't Enough - the Case for Holistic Compensation of the Wrongfully Convicted. American Criminal Law Review. 41: 157- 182.
Anderson, B. and D. Anderson. (1998). Wrongful Convictions in Canada. Halifax: Greenwood.
Attorney General Ontario. (2006). Report of the Kaufman Commission on Proceedings Involving Guy Paul Morin. Toronto. 'The Morin Inquiry'.
Department of Justice. (2004). Backgrounder: Steven Truscott Wrongful Conviction Application. Ottawa. October.
(2005). Application: Steven Murray Truscott. Summary of the Hon. Fred Kaufman. November.