It took 30 minutes for a jury to convict a mentally ill homeless man of rape. It took 11 years for the Criminal Justice system to conclude there was really no evidence to convict him. So after 11 years, Carl Chatman of Chicago is free, due to the diligent work of his sister Theresa Chatman. But how many of those wrongfully convicted of rape are still serving time in prison? Homelessness, mental illness, not being able to account for ones whereabouts at any given time, fitting a "profile", all of these things make men without the financial means to fight a case vulnerable for wrongful conviction. Juries focus on outrage over the crime but fail to examine whether the right person has been charged. Courts are still slow to use DNA evidence, which could exonerate a defendent. So how easy is it to be wrongfully convicted of rape?
rape![]()
![]()
| mental illness![]()
![]()
| homeless![]()
![]()
| prison![]()
![]()
| Carl Chatman![]()
![]()
rape
| mental illness | homeless | prison | Carl Chatman