Comparison+with+other+States

back =__Comparison with other states__ =

Pennsylvania:  __Establishment & Mandate :__  November 2006, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf sponsored a resolution of creating a committee on wrongful convictions, passed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Through DNA testing and other evidence the Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions examine defendants convicted of violent crimes.  __Issues:__  At least eight individuals were exonerated through post-conviction DNA testing. Three of these people where in prison for murder and one on death row. Even though it is unfair to imprison an innocent person, but by incarcerating the innocent, it is likely that a guilty person is still capable of committing further crimes.  __Resolution:__  The advisory committee contains approximately 30 members and at least the following constituencies:
 * prosecution
 * defense
 * law enforcement
 * corrections
 * judiciary and victim assistance

 But may include:
 * representatives of academia
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the faith community
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">private and public organizations involved in criminal justice
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">other criminal justice experts

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Advisory Committee must review following issues: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Advisory Committee must consider potential implementation plans, costs implications. Also, consider the impact on the criminal justice system for each possible solution. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Maryland:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">which an innocent person was wrongfully convicted and subsequently exonerate
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">review other relevant materials
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">identify the most common causes of wrongful convictions
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">identify current laws
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">rules and procedures implicated in each type of causation
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">rule or procedural changes or educational opportunities for eliminations of each type of causation.

Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project: Founded in 1989 to help free wrongfully convicted citizens, using DNA evidence.

Number of Board Members: 20

Exonerated Citizens: 266, as of October 28, 2011.

Case Review: Provide Pro Bono work to compelling cases. They are working to ensure that all wrongfully convicted criminals gain their freedom. They also try to teach judges, legislators, and the public on wrongfully convicted crimes. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Florida:

Establishment and Mandate: innocence commission was established by judicial order July 2, 2010 by Florida Supreme Court. It is to conduct a comprehensive study of the causes of wrongful conviction and of measures to prevent such convictions.

Composition : composed of 23 members., from state legislators to judges, attorneys to law professors.

Scope of review: The commission may review individual cases involving wrongful conviction where innocence has already been officially acknowledged., to determine the cause of the wrongful convictions. The commission has to submit an “interim report” to the Florida supreme court no later than June 30, 2011. and a final report on its investigations and findings and recommendations designed to prevent the conviction of the innocent to the court no later than jun 30, 2012. the commissions report is to chronicle the common errors in wrongful convictions and propose reforms to address the sources of those errors.