Geographical disparities in wrongful conviction cases.

Abstract

The horrors of wrongful conviction have become a reality for too many Americans. As formic science has matured, along with the evolution of interrogation techniques, the occurrence of wrongful convictions has become more apparent. Fortunately, there are many groups in the United States devoted to overturning wrongful convictions. While it is good news that innocent people are being released from prison, the question remains as to why, and when, people are wrongfully convicted. The purpose of this thesis was to examine geographical locations of wrongful convictions to determine if there is a higher instance of wrongful convictions in rural areas as opposed to urban areas in the United States. From these findings, recommendations can be made for future research on this subject, along with recommendations for possible improvements to avoid wrongful convictions in the future.