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A SERVICE OF OHIO'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS
A SERVICE OF OHIO'S PUBLIC BROADCASTING STATIONS
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Jim Petro served as Ohio's Attorney General from 2003 to 2007. As the state's top lawyer, he experienced firsthand the flaws of the American justice system, particularly wrongful conviction. He pushed for new legislation that allows prison inmates to request DNA tests if such evidence was available at the alleged crime scene. As a result, more that 400 people have since requested post-conviction DNA testing.
With his wife Nancy, he authored "False Justice" - detailing the eight myths of the legal system that sometimes lead to the conviction of the innocent:
1. "Everyone in prison claims innocence."
2. "Our system almost never convicts an innocent person."
3. "Only the guilty confess."
4. "Wrongful convictions are caused by innocent human error."
5. "An eyewitness is the best testimony."
6. "Conviction errors get corrected on appeal."
7. "It dishonors the victim to question a conviction."
8. "If the justice system has problems, the pros will fix them."
With his wife Nancy, he authored "False Justice" - detailing the eight myths of the legal system that sometimes lead to the conviction of the innocent:
1. "Everyone in prison claims innocence."
2. "Our system almost never convicts an innocent person."
3. "Only the guilty confess."
4. "Wrongful convictions are caused by innocent human error."
5. "An eyewitness is the best testimony."
6. "Conviction errors get corrected on appeal."
7. "It dishonors the victim to question a conviction."
8. "If the justice system has problems, the pros will fix them."
March 2, 2011