If you were wrongly convicted of a serious crime...

[Padawanbater2]

Here's the situation..

You're looking at 25-life with no possibility of parole. The DA's and public opinion are pressing for the death penalty, the only reason you avoided it is because you had a decent lawyer. Now you're behind bars with nothing but time.

You had no part in the crime you were convicted for. The crime itself was so heinous, in your mind, the appeals process is useless to prove your innocence.


So here's the question.. In this situation, what is the RIGHT thing to do? Not what would you do, what do you think is the most moral action to take, given the circumstances?

 

[Carne Seca]

Appeal. Because there is a son-of-a-bitch who committed a heinous crime running around living your life. Fuck not appealing.

 

[JohnnyGreenfingers]

In that situation, I would probably channel every drop of energy in my body towards escaping, 24 hours a day. Then once I got out I'd be on CNN for about a month, like when they got Osama. Then they could feel free to do with me what they chose, because at that point I'd deserve it.

If I absolutely positively could not escape, I would look for a way to maim or kill as many staff as possible until they put me in a permanent devil chair.

Of course, none of this is likely to happen because I'm a peace loving, tree hugging, kumbaya singing yippee.

 

[KushXOJ]

*looks at profile picture* yea you're guilty bro

 

[wormdrive66]

Change your name to Killer and start pumping iron. Or start Tossin Salad, It's your choice.

 

[dam612]

apparently the lawyer wasnt that good, these days its hard to get convicted without a massive amount of physical evidence that can 100% place you at the scene. if you werent there/didnt do it no evidence should be yours....but you would be an idiot to not appeal if you were wrongly placed in jail, worst thing that can happen is they say no

 

[KushXOJ]

Change your name to Killer and start pumping iron. Or start Tossin Salad, It's your choice.

^^^
*like*

 

[Moses Mobetta]

The right thing to do , is whats right -appeal . Are you asking if we would admit to a crime we were innocent of ? Never . Fight it the whole time and don't stop , your innocent .

 

[ganjames]

 

[phillipchristian]

I'd start studying every legal book, aspect of the law, and the case files. I would continue to mount an appeal and when they finally released me I'd sue them for $250 million!!! YeA!!

Now that I say it anyone wanna try and get me wrongly convicted for something? I'll do 5-10 for $250 million. Shit, I'd do it for $50 million.

 

[phillipchristian]

Saul's got a mullet. He means business.

 

[cannabineer]

Saul's got a mullet. He means business in the front, party in the back.

Couldn't resist. cn

 

[phillipchristian]

***Like***

 

[doublejj]

I know a inmate in Cali prison (I won't use his name) but here's his story.

He was convicted of the 1st degree murder of his business partner, although they never found a body. He swears the guy is alive in south america.
His family had money(retired millionars) & they hired him good lawyers. After several years of him telling me he had appeals going & that he would get a new trial. Sure enough after 7 years the appeals court overturned his conviction!

The DA offered him a deal before re-trial. Plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter & do 2 more years. He turned it down & went to trial. They re-convicted him, sentenced to 25 to life. He would have been out about 10 years ago. He's still sitting in a cell in Folsom prison.
Sometimes even if your innocent, taking the deal might be better.

But remember you can't appeal a deal!
Good luck

peace
doublejj

 

[Pipe Dream]

Well you really don't have many choices in that situation. You just protest your innocence, try to come up with some evidence in your defense and appeal.

 

[Skutch]

Appeal and hope one day the real criminal will be found.
Should that happen I'd start reading the "Islands for sale" - brochure and personally check every tropical one.

 

[xKuroiTaimax]

I'd rather not cost people time and money arguing my case. I would try to just behave myself and show I'm a decent kid and casually tell whoever I can 'you know I didn't do anything right?' I've found the less fuss I make, the more open/honest I am and the less I act like I have something to hide/prove, the more authority lets things slide with me. That's how things have worked out with me and the police so far at least. If I'm already in there I'd probably be more passive and thinking about the worst case scenario but hoping for the best. If I was fighting my case or waiting for the slaughter on the outside, however, I'd probably be kicking and screaming a whole lot more. If I was already inside, I'd be thinking 'I am already fucked, everything of mine is already gone, going or on hold.'

But the question is what is the right thing to do... I don't want to cost the state loads of money for one person. If I can't persuade people from the inside, or I'm not confident I could appeal successfully, I get put down like a dog, I guess. Innocent people die every day. Why should anyone care about, or pay for, my freedom...

Edit: Not sure about the real perpetrator being at large. I guess I could offer to help them find who actually did it of I have any legitimate evidence? I don't know.

 

[Johnnyorganic]

Saul's got a mullet. He means business.

In front.

But the party is in back.

 

[Johnnyorganic]

apparently the lawyer wasnt that good, these days its hard to get convicted without a massive amount of physical evidence that can 100% place you at the scene. if you werent there/didnt do it no evidence should be yours....

Absolutely correct.

but you would be an idiot to not appeal if you were wrongly placed in jail, worst thing that can happen is they say no

Appeals do not argue the merits of the case. The Appeals process is used to determine whether proper legal procedure was followed. So unless there is cause for an appeal, it would likely get turned down by the Appellate Court.

So short of new evidence exonerating the convicted, even a successful Appeal would most likely just result in a new trial.

However, having made that statement, a convicted individual should try to appeal anyway assuming one has the means to do so. The Appeals process is crazy expensive even by legal standards.

 

[Padawanbater2]

I'm right there with whoever said attempt to escape.

Is it wrong to try to escape, given the circumstances of your conviction and incarceration?