"Actual Innocence" by Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld, and Jim Dwyer is an extraordinarily powerful story of ordinary people incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Most believe something like this could never happen to us, but unfortunately it has happened to many. In this country, the United States of America, the government claims all people are "innocent till proven guilty." This book explains that the criminal justice system frees prisoners who are later proven innocent, but only after a lengthy legal process. Even after years of imprisonment, many trial judges state that "actual innocence" is not grounds for release from prison!" .
The preface begins with the horrifying case of Dennis Fritz being arrested, convicted and spending eleven years in prison for a rape he did not commit. It is proven through DNA tests that sixty-seven people were sent to prison and death row for crimes they did not commit. It also states that many local prosecutors argue that as a convict, one might hope to prove his innocence, but he has no absolute right to do so after a trial (Scheck, Neufeld, & Dwyer, 18).
In Chapter One, the case of Marion Coakley is discussed. He was sentenced to fifteen years for a rape that he did not commit. It briefly describes his background, the case, and trial in which he was convicted. He was slightly mentally retarded and was mistaken to be the rapist, identified by an eyewitness.
Chapter two speaks of an invention called PCR. It is referred to as the "DNA fingerprint test (pg.36)." This discovery could be used in criminal investigations to prove the guilty criminal. It explains how before PCR, the most sophisticated way to identify a suspect was by blood typing. Unfortunately this technique did not work for Marion Coakley due to the fact that bacteria had eaten away at the DNA, which is a much smaller molecule than blood.
Chapter three discusses the fact that eyewitnesses, especially those under stress are notoriously inaccurate.
Loss of innocence is arguably an integral part of growing up in today's society. ... " Some young children are eager to get rid of said innocence. ... " This can be seen as the boy's realization of actual reality, and his confrontation with it. ... Had she decided otherwise, she would have maintained the innocence she was ended up getting rid of. ... Innocence plays an important part in everyone's life. ...
The Actual Salem Witch Trials vs. ... The events described in The Crucible and the actual Salem Witch Trial events are closely related in that both portray the reasons for the start and end of the hysteria. ... When it comes to trials, hangings and death warrants, Miller changed actual events to give the play some excitement and drama. ... Hale was for questioning Proctor about his faith in the first place and doubting his innocence. After doing research on the actual Salem Witch trial events, and after reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller, I have found that the play has more things in...
Holden's journey embodies a search of belonging and innocence through a young adult's life. ... When Holden looks at the adult world, he sees a bunch of phonies who have lost their childhood, and innocence. Holden fears the fact that one day he will have to step out of childhood, enter adulthood, and lose his innocence. ... Holden values the children and looks for the innocence and truth that he finds in children, in the adult world. ... The average adolescent reader connects to this language and sees Holden as an actual person. ...
Mankind's loss of innocence According to Golding, author of Lord of the Flies, the actions of mankind are unpredictable when placed in a society without structure. ... The beast was not an actual monster living on the island but themselves that had become savages because of their fear of the beast. ... When placed in a society without structure, mankind will almost definitely turn to savagery and lose all innocence. ...
LOVE In the poem Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds William Shakespeare portrays love in its most ideal form, while John Keats portrays love as eternal innocence and beauty. ... In lines 7-8, Shakespeare claims that love's actual worth cannot be known; it will always remain a mystery. ... Keats introduces the theme of eternal innocence and the sufficiency of beauty with reference to the "unravished bride of quietness." ... The second and third stanzas restate the theme of eternal innocence and beauty. ... The urn captures her innocence. ...
This has the excellent effect of portraying to the reader the themes of responsibility and innocence. "What innocence? ... An unusual technique used in the poem is using Monroe's actual words from line twenty three to line twenty eight. This poetic technique gives the reader an actual insight into how Marilyn Monroe was thinking the few days before her death. ... shows that the poet feels America is in a sense like a parent to Monroe and also reiterates the main theme of innocence. ...
The play, based on the actual events of the famed Salem Witch Trials, bring this horrifying time in American history to chilling life. ... Abigail, an orphan and a quiet, young woman of a respectable family and proper unbringing, seems to be the picture of pure innocence. ...
The dominant themes of Hope, Greed, survival, innocence and heroism stand out. Spielberg's most important focus on the film was aimed around Hope, greed and innocence. ... He went so far to making it seem real, that he even shot scenes in the actual locations in which the "Real thing" took place. ... It has real events and places, real People being portrayed and as I said earlier, parts were actually filmed at the actual places where events occurred. ... The girl in the red dress a prime example of the theme of innocence. ...
His main concern in life is seeing people grow up, lose their innocence, and enter the world of "phoniness" which is basically the superficiality that he comes across in the world. ... He feels that way because he doesn't want these young children to get exposed to the adult world and lose their innocence. ... Holden is madly obsessive about keeping her innocence and preventing her from experiencing adulthood. ... The actual poem is about a girl going through a field of rye naked, and encounters a boy with whom she loses her innocence too. ... Holden, who sees the adult world a...