Wrongfully Convicted

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"A top legal scholar explains Canada’s national tragedy of wrongful convictions, how anyone could be caught up in them, and what we can do to safeguard justice. Canada’s legal system has a serious problem: a significant number of people are in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. There are famous cases of wrongful convictions, such as David Milgaard, Guy Paul Morin, and Donald Marshall Jr., who were all innocent of the murders for which they were found guilty. But there are lesser-known cases that illustrate just how widespread our issues are, and how they put everyone at risk. Kent Roach, law professor, government advisor, and award-winning author, has dedicated his illustrious career to documenting this phenomenon. His work reveals that, yes, some people are found guilty of crimes they didn’t commit. But also there are two other kinds of wrongful convictions: people who feel they have no option but to plead guilty, and people convicted of crimes that were imagined by experts or the police that never, in fact, happened. Wrongfully Convicted raises awareness of these issues and makes a compelling case that injustices cannot be solved by DNA exonerations alone. The problems run deeper. But there are solutions, including the creation of a permanent federal commission to evaluate and address wrongful convictions. Kent Roach’s research and vast knowledge point to systemic failings in our legal system. But he also outlines changes we can make to ensure a more fair and equitable society. Until we do, many of the wrongfully convicted are still waiting for the promise of justice. It is an issue that affects all Canadians."-- Provided by publisher