This is a summary of the text:
The text is about six cases of innocent people who were wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit and spent years in prison. The text explains how the innocent prisoner's dilemma, false confessions, police pressure, hidden evidence, and DNA errors contributed to these miscarriages of justice. The text also describes the emotional and physical consequences of these wrongful convictions, as well as the efforts of some organizations to exonerate the innocent. The text ends with a warning that DNA analysis is not infallible and that there is always a margin of error that can affect someone's life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
- 1. Six innocent people ended up in prison for crimes they did not commit.
- 2. The innocent prisoner's dilemma is when an innocent person has to choose between pleading guilty to get a reduced sentence or freedom, or maintaining their innocence and risking a harsher punishment.
- 3. Rickey Jackson spent 39 years in prison for a murder based on the false testimony of a 13-year-old boy who later recanted.
- 4. Michael Shirley spent 16 years in prison for the murder of Linda Cook, based on circumstantial evidence and a coerced statement from a girl he met at a club.
- 5. Stephen Downing spent 27 years in prison for the murder of Wendy Sewell, based on his presence at the crime scene and a confession he signed without understanding his rights or the charges.
- 6. Herbert Murray spent 29 years in prison for the rape and murder of Michelle Mott, based on blood type matching and scratch marks on his body. He maintained his innocence until he falsely confessed to get parole, but he was still denied freedom.
- 7. Timothy Cole died in prison after being convicted of raping Michele Mallin, based on her mistaken identification. The real rapist confessed after his death and DNA testing exonerated him.
- 8. Joe Arridy was executed for the rape and murder of Dorothy Drain, based on a confession he gave without understanding what was happening. He had an IQ of 45 and was mentally disabled. The real killer was never found.