There are a wide amount of variances in how many actual innocent people are in jail. Some believe it to be 2 – 3%. However, some statistics believe it to be as high as 25% of the prison populace in the US.
Over the last 40 years, there has been a 500% increase in prison populace. Part of the problems include the failed “War On Drugs,” and the need to scale back sentences for non-violent offenses. Many feel that “mandatory minimum sentences” do more to serve the prison industry itself, as opposed to any real benefits to society on a whole.
A large reason for many innocents to be in jail include a combination of inadequate defense, along with judges and prosecutors that have an agenda against the accused, the accused’s “profile,” or feel the need to “take a strong stance against crime,” and allow that to cloud their objectivity.
From The Innocence Project, in the some of the worst cases, lawyers have:
- slept in the courtroom during trial
- been disbarred shortly after finishing a death penalty case
- failed to investigate alibis
- failed to call or consult experts on forensic issues
- failed to show up for hearings
Lawyers have also been known to not object when a client’s “right to a speedy trial” has been violated, encourage clients to waive that right, and to not fight with their all, especially compared to the prosecution, whenever their clients’ rights are violated, or there are reasons for there to have “reasonable doubt” regarding the case.