Over time, America has seen an increase in wrongfully convicted. National Registry of Exoneration records that over 2500 incorrectly convicted prisoners have been exonerated on various grounds (Equal Justice Initiative, N.D). This is a grave threat for the public, as those who are sent to prison for offenses they didn’t commit frequently spend years in jail. Trust problems can be caused by high exoneration rates, as many people have lost faith in the justice process. Many factors can lead to unjustified convictions. Unjustified convictions can be caused by many factors, such as police misconduct, misconduct in prosecution and falsified witness testimony.
Sometimes, police misconduct can lead to unjustified convictions. Police misconduct can come in many forms. This can include false fabrications (Krieger, 2011). This happens when innocent people are forced to use drugs by police and they then arrest them. Sometimes, officers might alter the evidence in order to increase the likelihood that the defendant is convicted. If the police officer fails to present all of the evidence, then it is likely that the falsely accused will end up in jail. Incorrect convictions can be also possible due to poor police work, particularly if the officers use unsupported information or conduct substandard investigations.