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Jaws of Justice Radio
It is the intention of Jaws of Justice Radio to investigate how to achieve justice in America, this includes issues of economic injustice, political injustice and the criminal justice system. We want to put a human face on those caught in the grasp of injustice and those that are part of an unjust system. We strive to dispel the misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system.
Robinson, Amrine and Griffin Exoneration in MO
Many of you will know of Joe Amrine and Reggie Griffin as men who spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit Now the Missouri Supreme Court has released David Robinson after 18 years in prison, 14 years after someone else confessed to the crime. The Missouri State Supreme Court issued a one-page order releasing Robinson on the grounds he met the “gateway claim” of actual innocence and constitutional violations in his case. There are many others in Missouri and across the nation fighting for their freedom that have brought the evidence that proves their innocence into court that are still imprisoned.
Today we will explore the fight for one’s freedom and what this ruling may mean for others with claims of innocence. Host Latahra Smith of the KC Freedom Project talks with Joe Amrine, Reggie Griffin and Aryan Neal who is still fighting for his freedom about the implications of the David Robinson case. Joe and Reggie will also talk about the struggle to rebuild their lives with no compensation from the state or support from local organizations.
Holding Prosecutors Accountable
Many of these cases of innocence are based on the issue of constitutional violations cited in the Robinson case, those violations are often the result of prosecutorial misconduct. Prosecutors are often held immune from prosecution or face a slap on the wrist for even willful violations of defendants rights. Coercion of witnesses, bribing witnesses, hiding or destroying evidence is not as uncommon as we would like to think and even when exposed have few consequences.
In the second part of our show Latahra speaks with Staci Pratt about a new effort she and others are working on to hold prosecutors accountable for their conduct in investigations and in court.
