Pa.'s wrongful conviction law blocks justice in old cases

Once upon a time, state legislators established the post conviction relief act petition, to correct a miscarriage of justice for the wrongfully convicted. Then in 1996, legislators enacted a new law placing a time frame on justice.

I was wrongfully convicted as an accomplice to 3rd degree murder, aggravated assault and conspiracy. For the past 25 years I have been obtaining evidence of manipulation, deceit and false evidence submitted by the prosecutor, who also conspired with its only eyewitness to commit perjury. But because of the new enacted laws, there is no longer a corrective process available to me in the courts.

Some legislators realized this miscarriage of justice and in 2011 introduced a Senate bill removing the timeframe on justice for innocent prisoners. But sadly, the bill has not passed, so the innocent remain in prison.

Expecting admission of guilt in parole release decisions penalizes innocent prisoners for failing to accept responsibility for crimes they did not commit. Power without justice is brutal.

FRANCIS O'NEILL, State Correctional Institution-Huntingdon, Smithfield Twp., Huntingdon Co.

Original report here

　

　

　

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