Inmate still waiting on evidence of innocence

[The Straight Story]

Inmate still waiting on evidence of innocence

Inmate Ray Towler tugged the gray hair in his shaggy beard as he reflected on his long wait for DNA test results that he believes will prove his innocence.

Nearly 16 months ago, Towler thought he might be released from the Grafton Correctional Institution after test results on a rape victim's underwear produced genetic material that didn't match the 52-year-old Cleveland man. But prosecutors called the results inconclusive and agreed to follow-up testing - which still hasn't been completed.

"Seems like the gray in my beard is going to turn to white before they finish my testing," said Towler, who has served more than 28 years. "I was just sitting here reading about the 10 ways to fight hate. That says a lot right there, but I'm trying to focus on hope rather than anger."

Towler is one of about a dozen prisoners who are still grinding through Ohio's post-conviction DNA testing program after being featured more than two years ago in the Dispatch series "Test of Convictions." The series exposed flaws in the DNA testing system, reviewed more than 300 cases with the Ohio Innocence Project and then highlighted 30 prisoners as prime candidates for DNA testing.

Results have been mixed for about 20 inmates who have either completed or hit dead ends in the testing process. Tests exonerated two men and confirmed the guilt of four others. Five could not be tested because their evidence was lost or destroyed. Five were denied testing. Some were tested but the results were inconclusive.

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/14/copy/inmate-still-waiting-on-evidence-of-innocence.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[FreakinDJ]

1. Didn't SCOTUS rule convicts DO NOT have the right to DNA evidence

I'm sure you'll find a lot of debate and disgust over the issue if you search DU archives

Funny - the justices can grant Corporations the rights of people but when the Innocents Project proves that by DNA examination, 30% of the convicted persons across the United States on Death Row for Rape and Murder were WRONGFULLY CONVICTED, the Bush appointed court turns a deaf ear.

[midnight]

3. The notion that rules of innocence and access to them are not allowed to those

already convicted is crazy.

[beyurslf]

5. Yes. They denied a death penalty case because it was arguing innocence.

They ruled that actual innocence was not something that could be argued to the SC.

[old mark]

2. Many states laws don't provide for release of prisoners convicted by a

jury...even if is is later determined someone else did the crime. The judicial system hates to be called wrong, and that stuff about "guilty persons should go free before innocents are incarcerated" is just more self-aggrandizing bullshit. It's about conviction rates for DA's and judges up for re-election.

mark

ADDED: Innocent convicted prisoner's appeal denied because paperowrk was late - by judge Sonia Sotomayor:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/14/story_of_wrongfully_convicted_prisoner_jailed

He is released years later.

mark

[mrcheerful]

4. Yep I remember not to long ago a judge and DA ran with they had a 100%

conviction rate of sexual predators. Now the only way they could get that kind of conviction rate was by convicting everyone that came before them regardless of guilt or innocence. They were re-elected by a land slide because they were tough on crime even if said crime didn't happen.