by Stella Kaye

Created on: May 22, 2008   Last Updated: April 24, 2010

WORDS OF AN INNOCENT CONVICT

Wrongful convictions can and do happen and are notoriously difficult to overturn. Innocent prisoners invariably find that legal aid funding is limited and legal loopholes hinder them every step of the way. Ridiculous though it may seem, it is often easier for the innocent to admit guilt and responsibility for crimes that were never committed rather than stand their ground and maintain innocence in order to have any hope of regaining their freedom. This should not be the case in a civilised society; there should be some provision for prisoners maintaining innocence and more assistance for the falsely accused in preparing an adequate defence.

Once an innocent person becomes caught up in a Justice System designed to punish and rehabilitate, they are victimised for refusing to go with the flow and often end up with longer sentences than the guilty. Innocent people should never be made to feel remorse for crimes that never happened or show empathy towards their so called victims in order to get a lighter sentence or get parole. Currently in the UK it takes on average twelve years for an innocent prisoner to be released which means someone who has committed extremely heinous crimes will likely be out sooner. In UK prisons the innocent may have access to ‘Denier’s’ courses but the main obstacle when dealing with a person who claims they are innocent is the fact that prison and parole officials are required by law to treat all prisoners as guilty since they must abide by the court’s decision.

The following paragraphs are extracts from the letters of an innocent man who is serving a virtual life sentence in a UK prison for crimes that never happened. He will never be released if the Parole Board decides he poses a significant threat to the public at the end of his tariff, even though he was never any threat to begin with! Since his incarceration over three years ago he has lost all hope of ever proving his innocence and clearing his good name. He has done no wrong but he is a victim of the system and a hostage of the state. Worse perhaps than the initial miscarriage of justice against him is the impossible odds he is up against now in trying to prove his innocence. There has been virtually no help and encouragement for him from anyone in a positiion of authority during those past three years - only pressure to admit guilt.

Let his words speak for themselves and the UK Criminal Justice System admit that it can and

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