Innocence Blog
February 4, 2007
Innocence bills introduced in Texas Senate
Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis introduced two bills today — one calling for the creation of a Texas Innocence Commission and another boosting compensation in that state for the wrongly convicted.
"Enough is enough," said Ellis, who also chairs the Innocence Project's Board of Directors. "Day after day, week after week, we learn of more innocent Texans who have had their lives torn from them in tragic error. It is time for Texas to create an Innocence Commission to launch in-depth investigations each time an innocent person is wrongfully convicted, review what went wrong in these cases, why, and spell out the changes necessary to ensure these injustices are not repeated."
- Read Ellis' full press release here. (01/22/07)
- Learn More about Innocence Commissions and Exoneree Compensation in our Fix The System section, and in our Fact Sheets on compensation and commissions.
- Read the case profiles of recent Texas exonerees Larry Fuller and Gregory Wallis.
- Background on 12 Dallas County men proven innocence by DNA testing. (PDF)
Jeff Deskovic: Exonerated at 32, still feeling 17
A New York Times article today profiles Jeff Deskovic, who was freed in September, 2006 after serving 15 years for a murder he didn't commit.
Read the full story. (New York Times, 02/04/07, free subscription required)
More information on Jeff Deskovic:
- VIDEO: Deskovic heads to his first day at Mercy College (WCBS-TV)
- Read Deskovic's case profile.
- Deskovic was convicted after he falsely confessed to a murder, read about the ways recording of interrogations can prevent false confessions from happening.
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