Dean Cage, 41 years old and serving 14 years in prison for the sexual assault of a 15-year old, was the 217th person to be exonerated in the nation based on subsequent DNA testing, according to the Innocence Project. Of course, that number pales in comparison to the amount of convictions which occur each and every day on a nationwide basis; however, it does give us pause to make sure we avail ourselves of every aspect technology can offer to imprison the guilty and free the innocent.
Moreover, according to the Innocence Project, more than 75 percent of wrongful convictions that have resulted through DNA testing involve faulty eyewitness testimony. The old adage comes to mind: believe a third of what you hear and only half of what you see.
Original writing date: May 28, 2008