Justice for a Juvenile.
Donation protected
Throughout my affiliation with both The Exoneration Project at the University of Chicago Law School, and with the civil-rights firm of Loevy & Loevy, I have spent literally thousands of hours working to overturn wrongful convictions. Many of these cases involve false confessions by juvenile suspects who were, for one reason or another, become the subject of an investigation and subject to interrogation tactics scientifically proven to cause false and unreliable confessions but also serve as the basis for a subsequent wrongful conviction.
Unfortunately, and despite the legal structures designed to prevent interrogators from using coercive tactics against juveniles, the practices continue throughout the country.
This gofundme is a response to such an incident. Where, in Northern California, investigators, relying on less than a hunch and no hard evidence, interrogated a 12-year old learning-disabled juvenile, while preventing his parents from being present and by using several tactics---including lies, false promises of leniency, and a failure to provide understandable Miranda warnings---that resulted in a false confession. (Because of the age of the juvenile, and privacy associated with such proceedings, her name is not included here).
In the aftermath of the unlawful interrogation and subsequent criminal charges, the family---who are well-below the poverty level--was left devastated. That devastation was only compounded by the failures of their pro bono counsel , who refused pursue the 12-year old's innocence claim, the family felt it had no choice to seek quality legal representation, even if it broke the bank.
Unfortunately, it did. This gofundme seeks to help the family raise money for the legal defense their son deserves.
This is an important and unique opportunity. Unlike many other cases, where we seek to overturn wrongful convictions, this campaign seeks to prevent one.
So, on behalf of the family, we ask you humbly chip in to help them afford the criminal defense that their young son deserves. It means the world.
Unfortunately, and despite the legal structures designed to prevent interrogators from using coercive tactics against juveniles, the practices continue throughout the country.
This gofundme is a response to such an incident. Where, in Northern California, investigators, relying on less than a hunch and no hard evidence, interrogated a 12-year old learning-disabled juvenile, while preventing his parents from being present and by using several tactics---including lies, false promises of leniency, and a failure to provide understandable Miranda warnings---that resulted in a false confession. (Because of the age of the juvenile, and privacy associated with such proceedings, her name is not included here).
In the aftermath of the unlawful interrogation and subsequent criminal charges, the family---who are well-below the poverty level--was left devastated. That devastation was only compounded by the failures of their pro bono counsel , who refused pursue the 12-year old's innocence claim, the family felt it had no choice to seek quality legal representation, even if it broke the bank.
Unfortunately, it did. This gofundme seeks to help the family raise money for the legal defense their son deserves.
This is an important and unique opportunity. Unlike many other cases, where we seek to overturn wrongful convictions, this campaign seeks to prevent one.
So, on behalf of the family, we ask you humbly chip in to help them afford the criminal defense that their young son deserves. It means the world.
Organizer
David Owens
Organizer
Chicago, IL