Friday Roundup: A Good Week for Freedom

by Matt Kelley · 2009-04-03 15:58:00 UTC
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It was a good week for civil rights, from DNA exonerations to the freedom to marry. Even a former U.S. Senator learned that the Constitution applies to him, too. Here are a few stories of crime and punishment from the last few days.

Miguel Roman (above, in the middle of a hug) was officially exonerated in Connecticut, after serving 20 years for a murder DNA now proves he didn't commit. He's the 235th person exonerated by DNA testing nationwide.

There are reforms underway around the country to address wrongful convictions, and Texas - the home of more DNA exonerations than any other state - has been showing signs of big changes. Scott Henson wrote some great posts this week covering developments in the Lone Star State.

I wrote yesterday about Eric Holder dropping charges against former Senator Ted Stevens. Here's today's New York Times editorial and an op-ed from former NJ Attorney General JohnFarmer.  Here's more from ProPublica. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal law blog wondered if Stevens can sue the U.S. government.

The NY Times investigated the death of a man named Ahmad Tanveer in a private immigration holding facility, three years after he died. For months, his death wasn't reported and couldn't be confirmed. No central body tracks detention deaths, and it's impossible to know if there are other unreported deaths in detention. Change.org Immigration blogger Dave Bennion wonders whether the Obama Administration's openness policy will prevent this kind of injustice.

Due to budget shortfalls, Kansas may cut deeply into an alternative to incarceration program that has shown immediate results and drawn national praise. Where's the talk of closing a prison instead?

Ohio lawmakers are going soft on crime, especially with those evildoers who steal cable.

Finally, this doesn't have anything to do with criminal justice, but I want to shout with joy about a big victory for civil rights and human rights in Iowa today. The state Supreme Court ruled that a 1998 Iowa law banning same sex marriage was unconstitutional. It's a historic day, and hopefully one that will lead to more historic days in the months ahead. Michael Jones has the story.

Matt Kelley is the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project and a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Follow him on Twitter @mattjkelley.
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