The joint investigation, which tracked exonerations from 1989 through 2010, also determined that while 85 people were wrongfully incarcerated, the actual perpetrators were on a collective crime spree that included 14 murders, 11 sexual assaults, 10 kidnappings and at least 62 other felonies.
I have a very low opinion of your average police department. There are some cops that have a reasonable amount of integrity, care about the people they're working for (the tax payers), and are basically honest. I think most are not. I think most go into the job out of a sense of low self esteem, and they're looking for that power trip. They'll lie to get a conviction any chance they get.
Prosecutors base their job performance on convicting people. Again - doesn't matter much if they're really innocent or not. Their job is to ruin people for life. There are some that do their job out of a sense of justice, and helping to protect the public. I think those are the minority.
Meanwhile, the United States imprisons more citizens per capita than any other nation in the world, and we spend more on the "justice" system than any other nation.
I read a story on yahoo news this morning (I can't find it now) that described efforts of some businesses to not only hire former prisoners to work for their companies, but also setup a network where they encourage other businesses to do as well. I think that's a really great thing. Those owners and managers are true examples of human compassion.
It's unfortunate our "justice system" is so fucked up, but I guess a lot of nations are worse. I wouldn't want to get arrested in Mexico. Still, it's mostly corrupt and nobody seems to care.
At least there are some people that are trying to make a difference and help people avoid making the same mistakes. People fuck up. The idea is to help create the conditions where that doesn't happen again, and in this case, a job and regular income makes it possible.
....
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Police have brought charges against a homeless man in Maine who helped himself to an outdoor electrical outlet to charge a pair of cellphones.
A Bangor police officer checking downtown businesses discovered 23-year-old Shaun Fawster charging his cellphones in an outlet hidden behind some flowers.
Fawster was charged last weekend with theft of services, as well as carrying a concealed weapon after the officer found a folding knife tucked underneath his shirt.
The Bangor Daily News says Fawster was later released from jail. It's unknown if he has an attorney.
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