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Post by Lotus Flower on Apr 28, 2009 15:37:17 GMT -6
I'm a member of the Innocence Project and was glad when this was set to air. I think it's going to make for compelling television and I really think it will incite great debates. The focus is largely on cases in the 70s and 80s (prior to the technologies of today) where the blood/tissue evidence is reexamined in the hopes of confirming conviction or seeking exoneration. Of 40 cases tested, NINETEEN came back as non-matches for the person convicted of the crime. I do believe that we have to support these efforts as no innocent deserves to be falsely imprisoned and a killer is out there unpunished. That said... I know the anti-fringe will use this to try and further their cause, but the cases of potential innocence on death row dwindle dramatically after the advent of DNA technologies. So I think using this as an overall argument against the dp is hogwash; however, using this to push for testing across the board for murders committed prior to the mid-90s is something we could all agree with (well except joe). investigation.discovery.com/tv/dallas-dna/dallas-dna.htmlAbout Dallas DNA Dallas DNA chronicles a pioneering unit within the Dallas County District Attorney's office where post-conviction DNA testing is being used to clear the innocent, as well as confirm the guilty. When Craig Watkins ran for district attorney in Dallas County, he promised to fight for justice and through an innovative and unconventional new division he founded; he's been true to his word. In July 2007, Watkins created the nation's first Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) run by a DA's office and tasked it with re-examining hundreds of petitions submitted by inmates seeking post-conviction DNA testing and reinvestigating the cases that could be possible examples of injustice. Dallas County has more exonerations than any other jurisdiction in the nation since state law began allowing post-conviction testing in 2001. In that time, more than 40 cases have received post-conviction DNA evidence analysis and the results have stunned the nation—to date, 19 cases were found to have wrongful convictions, and under DA Watkins' leadership ten innocent men have walked free. The legal drama and the astounding ramifications including exonerations after men wrongfully spent decades behind bars is captured in Investigation Discovery's new six-part series DALLAS DNA, which premieres Tuesday, April 28 at 10 PM ET. Click here to get the full schedule.
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Post by Potassium_Pixie on Apr 28, 2009 19:10:32 GMT -6
I watched the first few minutes of the commercial. First I booed it, then I fell asleep.
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Post by Donnie on May 1, 2009 20:37:28 GMT -6
however, using this to push for testing across the board for murders committed prior to the mid-90s is something we could all agree with (well except joe). Wasting money and effort is not something that I agree with. The testing proves nothing.
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Post by Dea on May 3, 2009 9:07:37 GMT -6
Well, I'd like to see it. With all of the errors that have been found in Texas, I'm glad they are doing this. It should be interesting. I'll probably have to watch it online somewhere though. Thanks for posting this Lotus.
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Post by Lotus Flower on May 3, 2009 13:37:40 GMT -6
however, using this to push for testing across the board for murders committed prior to the mid-90s is something we could all agree with (well except joe). Wasting money and effort is not something that I agree with. The testing proves nothing. What do you say then to the 19 exonerated thus far in Dallas County alone? The DA is a hardass and tough on crime and pro death penalty. But even he had to step back and see there was a problem in Dallas County and created a task force specifically to deal with these issues. Texas operates on a state surplus (unlike other states). Also unlike other states, we've continued to prosecute death penalty cases and apply the punishment of death when their number is called. What exactly has all this "wasteful and costly testing" stopped us from doing anywhere else in our state?
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Post by Grey on May 3, 2009 13:46:14 GMT -6
I couldn't watch it but I know for a fact in Canada DNA testing exonerated quite a few innocent people in prison.
DNA also helps get the right person in prison too.
I don't think its a bad thing to test nor do I think it proves nothing.
The justice system will never work properly or keep society safe if some random is innocent and convicted of murder when the real murderer is on the streets.
But then again some mentalities are at least someone is paying for the crime.
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Post by Potassium_Pixie on May 3, 2009 23:26:16 GMT -6
DNA evidence can go either way, but I am really hoping that there aren't a lot of innocents in prison compared to the guilty party.
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Post by Grey on May 4, 2009 7:35:22 GMT -6
DNA evidence can go either way, but I am really hoping that there aren't a lot of innocents in prison compared to the guilty party. I'm pretty sure everyone is hoping that.
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Post by Lotus Flower on May 4, 2009 10:45:50 GMT -6
DNA evidence can go either way, but I am really hoping that there aren't a lot of innocents in prison compared to the guilty party. Don't get me wrong, my support of this project isn't because I believe that even most of these guys are innocent. I just want the right guy punished and if we can identify those few who were wrongly convicted prior to execution, I feel it's our duty to do so since the punishment is irretractable.
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Post by Grey on May 4, 2009 11:35:34 GMT -6
DNA evidence can go either way, but I am really hoping that there aren't a lot of innocents in prison compared to the guilty party. Don't get me wrong, my support of this project isn't because I believe that even most of these guys are innocent. I just want the right guy punished and if we can identify those few who were wrongly convicted prior to execution, I feel it's our duty to do so since the punishment is irretractable. I agree and share the same view as you.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2009 2:05:36 GMT -6
I dont think we get it on our discovery channel here in Australia,otherwise i would watch it,hopefuly it might come up on our crime channel.
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Post by Potassium_Pixie on May 10, 2009 14:59:48 GMT -6
Its on Investigation Discovery. Its a different channel altogether.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 22:21:43 GMT -6
Its on Investigation Discovery. Its a different channel altogether. We dont get as many channels as you lucky fellas in the usa.. we get discxovery & disc health & disc travel,we dont get the disc investigation,& 1 crime channel called CI crime & investigation..
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Post by The Tipsy Broker on May 11, 2009 0:16:20 GMT -6
Its on Investigation Discovery. Its a different channel altogether. We dont get as many channels as you lucky fellas in the usa.. we get discxovery & disc health & disc travel,we dont get the disc investigation,& 1 crime channel called CI crime & investigation.. A bit like UK television then. With the full satellite package we get around 250 channels, but im sure 150 are all travel progs ok slight exaggeration there ;D
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Post by Potassium_Pixie on May 11, 2009 20:20:45 GMT -6
Well, I have Verizon FiOs, so I am good
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