John Grisham, author of legal thrillers and former attorney, once said:
“Wrongful convictions happen every week in every state in this country. And they happen for all the same reasons. Sloppy police work. Eyewitness identification is the most—is the worst type—almost. Because it’s wrong about half the time. Think about that.” (Moyers, 2008)
Take a position. Is sloppy police work the primary reason for wrongful convictions?
First, title your post either “Sloppy Police Work Is the Primary Reason for Wrongful Convictions,” or “Sloppy Police Work Is Not the Primary Reason for Wrongful Convictions.”
Then, make your case. Using the information gained in this module and from the The Innocence Project or The Marshall Project, make your case. Who is primarily to blame for wrongful convictions? Where is the greatest need for reform? What actions can be taken to help lessen the chances of a person being wrongfully convicted of a crime? Be sure to build your case with factual resources.
In your response to your peers, consider how well they justified their position, making use of available resources. Consider the following questions in your response posts:
- Did they support their position convincingly using appropriate resources?
- Which of their points make the most sense to you, even if you made your case for the opposing viewpoint?
Reference
Moyers, B. (2008, January 25). “Bill Moyers Talks With John Grisham.” Bill Moyers Journal. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01252008/transcript4.html
To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric document.
