Help End Wrongful Convictions

When the innocent go to prison, the guilty go free. Herman Atkins spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit-hear his story, then help fix California's criminal justice system.

Three bills in the California Legislature would help prevent the most common causes of wrongful conviction:

Senate Bill 511 (Alquist) will require the electronic recording of police interrogation in cases involving homicides and other violent felonies.

Senate Bill 756 (Ridley-Thomas) will require the appointment of a task force to draft guidelines for the conduct of police line-ups and photo arrays to increase the accuracy of eyewitness identifications.

Senate Bill 609 (Romero) will require the corroboration of testimony by jailhouse informants.

The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice-a group of law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense attorneys-has recommended all three reforms. These reforms will help protect the innocent and make sure the guilty are convicted.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your State Assembly Member to support these bills.