This excellent article has nothing to do with false confessions, except it
reminds us not to trust the conventional wisdom -- a lesson with surpassing importance for criminal justice.
We may never know whether Troy Davis was innocent, and that alone makes
his execution terrifying. Thanks to the Innocence Project, we know that innocent people are wrongly convicted (with false
confessions one of the leading causes). That should give us great pause before executing anyone, particularly when there are
serious questions as to his guilt. This is a sad day.
In last night's GOP presidential debate, Rick Perry was asked whether
he worries that Texas has or will execute someone innocent. He made it clear that he considers the notion inconceivable.
Is Perry somehow unfamiliar with what the Innocence Project has taught us about wrongful convictions (many
stemming from false confessions)? How can anyone not acknowledge the risk of executing the innocent?
