Rating: 
Summary: Justice, by fermed
Review: Even though the authors of this book are liberal members of the defense bar, what they have to say is so terribly important that I can't see any decent person taking an opposing view. The book addresses matters which are as fundamental to liberty as the Bill of Rights, and it should be read by all citizens interested in true justice.In 1880 an article in "Nature" Faulds and Hershel described the uniqueness and permanency of dermal ridges, and this led to the development of fingerprintingas an identification procedure which in time was used by police departments the world over. For a hundred years fingerprinting remained a principal method of criminal identification. Then in 1984, the geneticist Ala Jeffreys noted that certain sequences of DNA are repeated in patterns so unique that only those sharing the same genetic material share identical DNA patterns. Now DNA is the premier method of identification of humans, including in matters dealing with crime, paternity or disease. The point of this book is to promote the use of DNA typing as a means of exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted of crimes; and its reverse: of confirming a criminal's identity. The authors use case histories of wrongly convicted innocents powerful enought to send shivers down one's back. Along with advocating DNA testing, they push for better criminal laboratories, and for a range of improvements in forensic matters having to do with identification. This is a gripping, informative and worthwhile book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone MUST Read This Book
Review: Everyone with a heart, brain, soul and/or conscience must read this book. This book tells the stories of many men who were convicted unjustly. While I expected to learn of the stories of the men who were proven "actually innocent" by DNA, I didn't expect to find that in doing so it exposed many other injustices as well. What I found was that while DNA was the catalyst, and the ultimate proof that set these men free - it did far more than that. It was because of the DNA evidence that the courts were forced to see that there are far more flaws the justice system than any of us would like to admit. I found myself alternately fascinated and appalled throughout this book. What truly amazed me was that "actual innocence" is not the be all and end all in the courts as it should be. I was floored that even though a person could be proven "actually innocent" via DNA, there were still hoops that lawyers had to leap through to obtain justice. I would urge everyone who reads this book to take note to the suggestions peppered throughout and take action to make the changes necessary (whether it be on the state or federal level) to make sure that the guilty are punished, not the innocent. For anyone who thinks that this book is for "bleeding-heart liberals", remember this - for every person unjustly imprisoned, and God forbid, sentenced to death - there is the very real probability that the real perpetrator is still out there. I would urge EVERYONE to buy this book and learn from it. I would really like to give this book a rating much higher that five (5) stars, as I believe it should serve as an educational experience for all of us. Don't remain anonymous - buy this book, learn from it and act.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting/Uncomfortable
Review: Fascinating food for thought as 10 cases of innocence are walked through where their freedom is found through DNA testing. The pro bono civil rights organization called The Innocence Projects raises many thought provoking arguments as to whether the Death Penalty is a good thing after all. The most surprising thing to me when reading these cases, was just how long it still took to free the innocents even when undisputable proof cleared their names. Scary how much the machinations of law will go to in order to keep this under wraps.
Rating: 
Summary: BUY THE PAPERBACK
Review: I am primarily offended that the authors and Amazon publish the almost the exact same book in both hardback and paperback with different titles in order to sucker folks into buying both. Amazon outright recommends the purchase of both books - but you should only buy the paperback. It has all the text of the more expensive hardback plus one additional chapter. The book graphically displays some of the problems with the justice system; it fails, however, to examine the proponents' take on the death penalty. By failing to make such an examination, people with little or no opinion or those who are pro-death penalty will likely make changes to their political thought without the necessary logical underpinnings.
Rating:
Summary: BUY THE PAPERBACK
Review: I am primarily offended that the authors and Amazon publish the almost the exact same book in both hardback and paperback with different titles in order to sucker folks into buying both. Amazon outright recommends the purchase of both books - but you should only buy the paperback. It has all the text of the more expensive hardback plus one additional chapter. The book graphically displays some of the problems with the justice system; it fails, however, to examine the proponents' take on the death penalty. By failing to make such an examination, people with little or no opinion or those who are pro-death penalty will likely make changes to their political thought without the necessary logical underpinnings.
Rating: 
Summary: A plate full of potatoes, but little meat.
Review: I can but agree this book should be read by the death penalty advocates, but it won't be. I'm afraid they are preaching to the choir with nothing new to say. Yes the system is corrupt. Yes we convict innocent people. What are you going to tell me next, the sky is blue? I think they had a blank page they felt needed filling, rather than information that needed telling. I suggest that Barry and Peter look for words and ideas that will find there way into scrooge's heart.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read for anyone concerned about Justice
Review: I picked this title up on the weekend, and have been engrossed in it ever since. What the authors showcase reveals the appalling state of the judicial system in the USofA. From 'snitch' testimony being the backbone of a case - to the warped and twisted serologists who've framed numerous individuals with crimes they didn't commit, the contents of this writing will shake the reader to the core. If it doesn't... then you don't likely have a pulse. There's a grass-roots movement regarding crime and punishment - and well there should be, given what is reported in "Actual Innocence". The Law needs a shakedown, and the public needs to call for it. I highly recommend this intelligent and articulate presentation of a very controversial subject. As Sir William Hamilton once said, "The truth, like a torch, when it's shook it shines." Here's to the truth shining bright as day upon all the dark nooks and crannies of the American judicial system (and beyond!). Kudos to the authors, who've held their torch high and are shining a beacon across the land.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding and important
Review: If I could, I'd give this book 10 stars. And I'd make it assigned reading for every American. Those folks out there who favor capital punishment should definitely read it...because this book shows how perilously close we are to a "justice system" where it can happen to any of us "law-abiding citizens". That an innocent man can come within 5 days of execution is horrifying...and makes me wonder how many innocents we HAVE put to death in this country.
Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading
Review: In this book the authors do not only discuss the plethora of cases in recent years in which DNA has resulted in the release of wrongly-convicted prisoners. They also take a close look at what caused these wrongful convictions in the first place. The chapters discuss a whole range of problems which lead to wrongful convictions from erroneous identifications to "junk science" to overzealous law enforcement and prosecution, and more. The most sobering point is that DNA -- which only has been useful for a few years -- can exonerate a prisoner ONLY IF the perpetrator left a smidgen of his DNA behind. Since this occurs in a small subset of cases (rapes and some murders), there is no way to prove easily that someone has been wrongfully convicted in other situations. Rather than just point out the problems which result in wrongful convictions, the authors offer numerous suggestions, both throughout the text and in the conclusion. The most obvious one, which has only been adopted by a couple of states, is that, whether or not you are for or against the death penalty, executions should be suspended automatically until DNA evidence can be reviewed, if available. (Are you listening George W.?)
Rating:
Summary: Reason to be Scared
Review: One of the best books out on the corruption and flaws and callousness in the death penalty justice system is, "Actual Innocence," by Barry Scheck, Peter Newfeld, Jim Dwyer - A good halloween book for sure. The goblins and ghouls are not "out there," but live and work in our death penalty justice system. It will make your toes curl. Oooooooh, pleasant reading.
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