New NY Task Force to Review Causes of Wrongful Conviction

05.01.09

This afternoon, the chief judge of New York’s highest court said he would create a permanent task force to examine the causes of wrongful convictions and evaluate policy reforms to prevent injustice. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said the commission would review exoneration cases in the state and “see what we need to do to change the criminal justice system so this doesn’t happen.”

The Innocence Project called the task force “a huge step forward.”

“We commend Chief Judge Lippman for creating a permanent state entity that will look seriously at these problems and develop systemic solutions to enhance public safety,” Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld said in a statement today. “This task force will be a national model for how the judiciary branch can improve the criminal justice system through court rules, legislation and training. As a permanent state entity, the task force will also be able to monitor how reforms are working and pursue further improvements.”

Led by Theodore T. Jones, an associate judge on the Court of Appeals, and Janet DiFiore, the district attorney of Westchester County, the task force will also include State Senator Eric T. Schneiderman and Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, chairmen of the committees that have jurisdiction over criminal justice legislation in their respective chambers of the Legislature. Other members of the task force will be named later, Mr. Lippman said.

“This is the judiciary acknowledging that there are many people passing through the justice system who are innocent,” Mr. Schneiderman said. “It is a very big step.”


Read the full story here

. (New York Times, 05/01/09)


Read our press release on the new task force and download a report on DNA exoneration cases in New York state

.

Leave a Reply

Thank you for visiting us. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone.

This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.