Tell Florida Lawmakers: No More Wrongful Convictions

Update, 8/4/2010: Last month, Florida moved to create a 23-member Innocence Commission, which is scheduled to begin work this fall. The board will look at death penalty cases, as well as claims of innocence at all levels. Thank you to the over 600 Change.org activists who signed our petition! Congratulations on the victory.

When it comes to wrongful convictions, Florida has one of the worst track records in the country. Over the years, Florida's exonerated more people on death row than any other state -- some 23 individuals, all told.

All states, of course, need avenues for investigating claims of innocence. But in Florida, such sky-high wrongful convictions numbers should make the establishment of such an agency a top priority. In a system in which everyone should be innocent until proved guilty, there's no excuse for sending the wrong people to prison -- let alone permitting them die at the hands of the state.

The Innocence Project of Florida has done terrific work, working diligently to clear the names of many wronged prisoners. For example, their latest success, James Bain -- who was freed after spending 35 years in prison for crimes he didn't commit. Although the Innocence Project has been an incredible force for justice in Florida, and helped dramatically change lives like Bain's, ultimately, they're a stop-gap measure. They simply can't be expected to do it all. Florida needs a state-funded body tasked with the pursuit of justice and truth. Because when it comes to whether or not the state has been fair in its convictions, there's absolutely no room for doubt. Take action to help ensure more wrongful convictions in Florida don't happen below:

In December, 70 attorneys submitted a petition to the Florida Supreme Court, asking them to create the Florida Actual Innocence Commission. Modeled after a similar commission in North Carolina, the petition received signatures from notables that include former Attorney General Janet Reno and several former state Supreme Court justices. Senator Mike Haridopolos -- next in line for the Senate presidency in 2011 -- has also expressed support for the establishment of a state innocence commission. So has the State Bar Board of Governors.

Now it's our turn. With state and national support for such a commission riding so high, please take a moment to add your voice. You can sign the petition urging the Florida Supreme Court and legislators to support the commission's creation here at Change.org, and please tell your friends as well. It's a tragedy that 23 wrongfully convicted prisoners in Florida had to wait years to have justice realized, but with your signature, we can try to ensure that the years they served weren't in vain.

Photo Credit: my_southborough