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DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance

by TChris

A number of states have enacted laws making it easier for the wrongly convicted to take advantage of improved DNA testing to demonstrate their innocence. A bill is pending in Florida that would rescind a deadline for presenting new DNA evidence to a court. Its passage should be a no-brainer, but the "tough on crime" crowd is making the predictable argument that post-conviction attempts to prove innocence are an "abuse" of the criminal justice system. They seem less concerned about the abuse that occurs when an innocent accused is sent to prison.

All this rhetoric about ''court system abuse'' is getting old anyway. Whatever costs are associated with clearing people's records are negligible compared to the costs of keeping an innocent person in jail -- from the financial burden on tax payers, to the moral burden of thwarting justice while real criminals go unpunished.

As Jenny Greenberg, director of the Florida Innocence Initiative, said: "I'm fixing the mistakes. I'm not making the mistakes.''

Conservatives in the state House are pushing last minute amendments that would weaken the bill. Their colleagues should Just Say No to new legislative barriers that might prevent an innocent prisoner from regaining his or her freedom.

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    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 01:41:50 PM EST
    Whatever costs are associated with clearing people's records are negligible compared to the costs of keeping an innocent person in jail.
    This is such an obviously good argument that it makes one really question the motives of the opponents -- especially since they are usually the same people who favor lower taxes. What are they thinking?!

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 02:15:24 PM EST
    Not so little jebbie doesn't wanna look bad. That ship sailed a long time ago, lard butt.

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#3)
    by jen on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 03:04:45 PM EST
    going after the real culprit is way too hard.

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#4)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 03:52:21 PM EST
    What are they thinking?!
    What they're thinking is that there's a new definition of "justice" in town: Someone's gotta go to jail. Doesn't matter who, doesn't matter why, it does help if they're not white.

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 09:08:32 PM EST
    What are they thinking?!
    Lower taxes. Spend all the money. Cut funding for social progams (education, health, environment, etc.). TAP INTO SOCIAL SECURITY In order to pay for the prisons. (after slashing the social programs' funding there is still no money left as it all went into either slush funds, pork or military defence)

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Apr 15, 2006 at 11:46:38 PM EST
    Thanks Squeaky -- silly me for assuming there was a logical explanation. What was I thinking?!

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#7)
    by john horse on Sun Apr 16, 2006 at 05:42:40 AM EST
    As a Floridian I must confess that the comments here are right on the money. Extending the deadline for presenting the new DNA evidence in court should be a no-brainer. Unfortunately, we have both houses of our legislature and the governor are Republican. They are lacking what the scarecrow, lion and tinman were lacking in the Wizard of Oz: a brain, a heart and courage.

    Re: DNA Reform in Florida Encounters Resistance (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 01:11:52 AM EST
    "Beware of those in whom the will to punish is strong" - Nietzsche.