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One of the many problematic things about criminal justice in the United States is this: Many prosecutors and police officers feel that, even if you weren't gui

One of the many problematic things about criminal justice in the United States is this: Many prosecutors and police officers feel that, even if you weren't guilty of this crime, you were probably guilty of something, the law just "caught up with you." so if a plausible case can be made against you they'll do it. And it's important to understand this isn't merely a cynical view held by these people: it's a strongly held conviction. Had Mr. Dixon been thoroughly exonerated at his original hearing, I can assure you both the arresting officer and prosecutor involved would be absolutely furious that he "got away with it" Attempts to curtail this behavior are met with endless concern-trolling and belly-aching from DA and police departments, claiming it lets criminals roam free because they use these laws (civil liberties) to "cheat the system". They are gas-lighting you, and don't want you to ask: how are a bunch of impoverished teens, who never completed high school, and likely never left a 6 block radius of where they grew up, somehow out-maneuvering politically powerful DAs with well-educated prosecutors backed up by well-funded militarized police departments? The constitution is powerful, but it's not that powerful.

sangnoir 8y ago
> Many prosecutors and police officers feel that, even if you weren't guilty of this crime, you were probably guilty of something You are right, the prosecutors feel that way. From the article: But despite Mr Dixon's exoneration, prosecutors say he did provide the murder weapon, which they described as a machine gun. They also said he was an "up-and-coming drug dealer" in Buffalo at the time of his arrest. "Mr Dixon is innocent of the shooting and of the murder for what he was found guilty of, but Mr Dixon brought the gun to the fight," said the district attorney.
- totalZero 8y ago
  You're taking the quote out of context. Dixon's conviction on the fourth charge, criminal possession of the murder weapon, was not overturned, and the DA is stating the reason for that. Dixon was, in fact, guilty of something. Not only that, but Dixon's status as a drug dealer is a materially relevant fact of the relationship between himself and Scott, who in fact committed the murder. (See quote below). This DA has been in the job for less than a year and he is the person who ordered the review. He has pointed out that there was no physical evidence of any kind used in the trial to convict Dixon, among other statements he has made in support of overturning the murder conviction. From https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-inmate-valentino-dixon-cleared-1991-murder-golf-drawings/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-inmate-valentino-dixon... "There was a fight. Shots were fired. I grabbed the gun from under the bench, switched it to automatic, all the bullets shot out. Unfortunately, Torriano ended up dying," Lamarr Scott, who has been in prison for 25 years for an unrelated attempted murder, told the court. "I dropped the gun and ran and it was over and done with." Scott said he had gotten the gun, a Tec-9 semi-automatic, from Dixon and the two men had driven together to the crowded corner where the fighting broke out. Scott was given a sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, concurrent with his current term. Judge Susan Eagan let stand a count of criminal possession of a weapon against Dixon, and its 5- to 15-year sentence, which she said he had satisfied. "You are eligible for release today," the judge said, igniting applause and shouts from courtroom supporters. "Mr. Dixon is not an innocent man. Don't be misguided in that at all," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters after the hearing. He described Dixon as "an up-and-coming drug dealer in the city of Buffalo" at the time of the shooting and said Scott was Dixon's bodyguard. "Mr. Dixon is innocent of the shooting and of the murder for what he was found guilty of," he said, "but Mr. Dixon brought the gun to the fight. It was Mr. Dixon's gun."
true_religion 8y ago
There are more people commiting crimes than people investigating crimes. The system is so log jammed that if everyone took a trial rather than a plea deal, no one would ever see a court date for years. In this condition its easy to see resources allocated to high profile cases which impoverished, uneducated teenagers are not. So a DA can believe someone is guilty, but also that there is unlikely to get enough resources to investigate and prove it. Now personally I believe the solution is to be more lax on crime, till the numbers improve but thats another topic.
- Thlom 8y ago
  Ive just listened to the first two episodes of the new Serial season which tackles the justice system from inside a courthouse. Coming from another justice system, it sounds absolutely insane to me.
- ChoGGi 8y ago
  Prosecutors had omitted to reveal to Mr Dixon's defence attorney that a gunpowder test on his client's clothes had come back negative. Sounds like they knew he wasn't guilty, but didn't care?
emodendroket 8y ago
Honestly, I think watching Dirty Harry would provide a window into the heads of a lot of law-and-order people, who otherwise can be kind of difficult to understand. It seems like a cartoon, but it's really how people think of the justice system.

sangnoir 8y ago

> Many prosecutors and police officers feel that, even if you weren't guilty of this crime, you were probably guilty of something You are right, the prosecutors feel that way. From the article: But despite Mr Dixon's exoneration, prosecutors say he did provide the murder weapon, which they described as a machine gun. They also said he was an "up-and-coming drug dealer" in Buffalo at the time of his arrest. "Mr Dixon is innocent of the shooting and of the murder for what he was found guilty of, but Mr Dixon brought the gun to the fight," said the district attorney.

totalZero 8y ago
You're taking the quote out of context. Dixon's conviction on the fourth charge, criminal possession of the murder weapon, was not overturned, and the DA is stating the reason for that. Dixon was, in fact, guilty of something. Not only that, but Dixon's status as a drug dealer is a materially relevant fact of the relationship between himself and Scott, who in fact committed the murder. (See quote below). This DA has been in the job for less than a year and he is the person who ordered the review. He has pointed out that there was no physical evidence of any kind used in the trial to convict Dixon, among other statements he has made in support of overturning the murder conviction. From https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-inmate-valentino-dixon-cleared-1991-murder-golf-drawings/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-inmate-valentino-dixon... "There was a fight. Shots were fired. I grabbed the gun from under the bench, switched it to automatic, all the bullets shot out. Unfortunately, Torriano ended up dying," Lamarr Scott, who has been in prison for 25 years for an unrelated attempted murder, told the court. "I dropped the gun and ran and it was over and done with." Scott said he had gotten the gun, a Tec-9 semi-automatic, from Dixon and the two men had driven together to the crowded corner where the fighting broke out. Scott was given a sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, concurrent with his current term. Judge Susan Eagan let stand a count of criminal possession of a weapon against Dixon, and its 5- to 15-year sentence, which she said he had satisfied. "You are eligible for release today," the judge said, igniting applause and shouts from courtroom supporters. "Mr. Dixon is not an innocent man. Don't be misguided in that at all," Erie County District Attorney John Flynn told reporters after the hearing. He described Dixon as "an up-and-coming drug dealer in the city of Buffalo" at the time of the shooting and said Scott was Dixon's bodyguard. "Mr. Dixon is innocent of the shooting and of the murder for what he was found guilty of," he said, "but Mr. Dixon brought the gun to the fight. It was Mr. Dixon's gun."

true_religion 8y ago

There are more people commiting crimes than people investigating crimes. The system is so log jammed that if everyone took a trial rather than a plea deal, no one would ever see a court date for years. In this condition its easy to see resources allocated to high profile cases which impoverished, uneducated teenagers are not. So a DA can believe someone is guilty, but also that there is unlikely to get enough resources to investigate and prove it. Now personally I believe the solution is to be more lax on crime, till the numbers improve but thats another topic.

Thlom 8y ago
Ive just listened to the first two episodes of the new Serial season which tackles the justice system from inside a courthouse. Coming from another justice system, it sounds absolutely insane to me.
ChoGGi 8y ago
Prosecutors had omitted to reveal to Mr Dixon's defence attorney that a gunpowder test on his client's clothes had come back negative. Sounds like they knew he wasn't guilty, but didn't care?

emodendroket 8y ago

Honestly, I think watching Dirty Harry would provide a window into the heads of a lot of law-and-order people, who otherwise can be kind of difficult to understand. It seems like a cartoon, but it's really how people think of the justice system.