Prosecution Complex: America's Race To Convict, And Its Impact On The Innocent Project Muse Upcc Books

American prosecutors are asked to play two roles within the criminal justice system: they are supposed to be ministers of justice whose only goals are to ensure fair trials, whatever the outcomes of those trials might be-and they are also advocates of the government whose success rates are measured by how many convictions they get. Because of this second role, sometimes prosecutors suppress evidence in order to establish a defendant’s guilt and safeguard that conviction over time. Daniel S. Medwed, a nationally-recognized authority on wrongful convictions, has wrestled with these issues for nearly fifteen years, ever since he accepted a job as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society of New York City. Combining his hands-on experience in the courtroom and his role as a teacher and scholar in the classroom, Medwed shows how prosecutors are told to lock up criminals and protect the rights of defendants. This double role creates an institutional 'prosecution complex' that animates how district attorneys’ offices treat potentially innocent defendants at all stages of the process-and that can cause prosecutors to aid in the conviction of the innocent. Ultimately, Prosecution Complex is not intended to portray prosecutors as rogue officials indifferent to the conviction of the innocent, but rather to explain why, while most prosecutors aim to do justice, only some hit that target consistently. American Prosecutors Are Asked To Play Two Roles Within The Criminal Justice System: They Are Supposed To Be Ministers Of Justice Whose Only Goals Are To Ensure Fair Trials, And They Are Also Advocates Of The Government Whose Success Rates Are Measured By How Many Convictions They Get. Because Of This Second Role, Sometimes Prosecutors Suppress Evidence In Order To Establish A Defendant's Guilt And Safeguard That Conviction Over Time. In This Book The Author Shows How Prosecutors Are Told To Lock Up Criminals And Protect The Rights Of Defendants. This Double Role Creates An Institutional Prosecution Complex That Animates How District Attorneys' Offices Treat Potentially Innocent Defendants At All Stages Of The Process, And That Can Cause Prosecutors To Aid In The Conviction Of The Innocent. Ultimately, This Book Shows How, While Most Prosecutors Aim To Do Justice, Only Some Hit That Target Consistently. -- From Publisher's Website. Pt. I. Fair Play? Prosecutorial Behavior Prior To Trial -- Charging Ahead -- In The Interest Of Full Disclosure : Discovery In Criminal Cases -- Plea Bargaining Pitfalls -- Pt. Ii. Beyond A Reasonable Doubt? Reasons To Doubt Prosecutorial Conduct During Trial -- Preparation And Examination Of Witnesses -- Test Tubes On Trial : Prosecutors And Forensic Evidence -- Closing The Door On Innocence : Improper Summations By Prosecutors -- Pt. Iii. The Fallacy Of Finality : Prosecutors And Post-conviction Claims Of Innocence -- Prosecutorial Resistance To Post-conviction Claims Of Innocence -- A Closer Look : Prosecutors And Post-conviction Dna Testing -- In Denial : Prosecutors' Refusal To Accept Proof Of An Inmate's Innocence. Daniel S. Medwed. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 171-220) And Index. · "A fascinating ethical, legal, and psychological perspective... Gripping accounts... Simply must be read by all." - Brandon Garrett, Roy L. and Rosamund Woodruff Morgan Professor of Law, University of Virginia · "Absorbing, sobering, and informative... This is a must read!" - Charles J. Ogletree, Founding and Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice · "Shows us how to fix the problems." - John Grisham, New York Times best-selling author of The Litigators · "Challenges us all to work towards changes." - Scott Renshaw, City Weekly · "This book should be required reading by all prosecutors and by all law students." - Maurice Possley, Los Angeles Daily Journal · "Illuminating." - Appeal and Habeas blog · "Enlightening... tackles an issue many tend to shy away from." - Shelby Scoffield, Desert News · "A scholarly conversation." - Boston Review · "Highly recommended." - CHOICE · "Even-handed, clear-headed." - Rutgers "Appeals to both academics and anyone interested in gaining knowledge." - Criminal Justice Review American prosecutors are asked to play two roles within the criminal justice system: they are supposed to be ministers of justice whose only goals are to ensure fair trials—and they are also advocates of the government whose success rates are measured by how many convictions they get. Because of this second role, sometimes prosecutors suppress evidence in order to establish a defendant’s guilt and safeguard that conviction over time. In Prosecution Complex, Daniel S. Medwed shows how prosecutors are told to lock up criminals and protect the rights of defendants. This double role creates an institutional “prosecution complex” that animates how district attorneys’ offices treat potentially innocent defendants at all stages of the process—and that can cause prosecutors to aid in the conviction of the innocent. Ultimately, Prosecution Complex shows how, while most prosecutors aim to do justice, only some hit that target consistently. Charging ahead In the interest of full disclosure : discovery in criminal cases Plea bargaining pitfalls Preparation and examination of witnesses Test tubes on trial : prosecutors and forensic evidence Closing the door on innocence : improper summations by prosecutors Prosecutorial resistance to post-conviction claims of innocence A closer look : prosecutors and post-conviction DNA testing In denial : the refusal of prosecutors to accept proof of an inmate's innocence. Combining his hands-on experience in the courtroom and his role as a teacher and scholar in the classroom, Medwed shows how prosecutors are told to lock up criminals and protect the rights of defendants. 'Prosecution Complex' explains why, while most prosecutors aim to do justice, only some hit that target consistently.