Article
DNA Exonerations Suggest Racial Inequities
A closer look at the 200 cases in which inmates were exonerated by DNA evidence suggests that minorities are more often victims of wrongful convictions, especially in some rape cases.
Eight-five percent of exonerated rapists were black men accused of assaulting white women, the Washington Post reports. Yet black men are accused in just 33.6 percent of rapes or sexual assaults of white women, according to a 2005 study.
The developments are leading to changes in police methods, the story says.
New Jersey now requires police to record interrogations for violent crimes; 20 other states are considering similar actions. New Jersey is also changing its lineup procedures so that potential suspects are presented one after another.
