Final Paper

Background

The US criminal justice system comprises legal groups and actors that work as a jury during case hearings, ruling and convictions. These legal groups can make a miscarriage possible at any stage of the legal process. They can also do so when the case is in the hands of a legal actor. Sometimes the miscarriage or wrongful conviction arises because of errors made by eye-witnesses, misconduct by the police and falsification of the available evidence (Huff, 2004). Therefore, it is the duty of the legal groups present during the court case to analyze and establish whether the evidence provided is right or wrong. Moreover, they should establish whether the eye-witness is giving true information that tallies with the evidence or not.

Purpose of this paper

This paper aims to provide an analysis of ex post facto mechanisms essential in sustaining wrongful convictions as they occur in the criminal justice system.

Research question

What is the depth of wrongful conviction in the US criminal justice system?

Population of study

This qualitative study will focus on ex-convicts who were wrongly convicted, inmates who are wrongly convicted, and two members of the legal groups that deal with case hearings and ruling. In this study, the sample size and population will entail ten ex-convicts, 20 inmates and two members of the legal groups.

Conducting the study

The researcher in this study will conduct the qualitative research through various methodologies such as semi-structured interviews use of questionnaires and surveys.

i. Semi-structured interviews: through this, I will rely on asking the participants some questions framed based on the thematic framework. These questions will be qualitative and not arranged in order.

ii. Questionnaires: these questionnaires will have a series of questions tailored to wrongful convictions in the criminal justice system. The questions will be both oral and written.

iii. Surveys: this will focus on secondary sources whereby I will do extensive research on the topic and find books in the library before carrying out the survey.

In conclusion, the American criminal justice system has made tangible and visible progress in its justice. However, issues of wrongful conviction continue to be alarming in the system. Therefore, carrying out a study on ex post facto mechanisms essential in sustaining wrongful convictions as they occur in the criminal justice system is essential for those working in the system, the convicted individuals and interested groups in general.

References

Denov, M. S., & Campbell, K. M. (2005). Criminal injustice: Understanding Canada's causes, effects, and responses to wrongful conviction. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(3), 224-249.

Huff, C. (2004). Wrongful convictions: the American experience. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 46(2), 107-120.