Can You be Convicted of a Crime in California if You are Innocent?

The criminal justice system is set up to make the truth known, and in doing so, prosecute those who have violated the law while keeping innocent individuals safe from harm. Even though the system works for most cases, it is not perfect. Sometimes an innocent person is convicted of a crime they did not commit. Jailing an innocent person is an incredible tragedy and deplorable misfortune.

The importance of having effective and experienced legal representation is crucial to defending your rights and freedoms when you are charged with a crime. David M. Boertje is a San Diego criminal defense attorney who has a proven track record of successfully helping defendants see their best possible outcome in court. Whether it be negotiating the most beneficial plea deal, having charges reduced, or having charges completely dropped, David M. Boertje has handled thousands of criminal cases and knows how to best serve individuals facing criminal charges. The Law Offices of David M. Boertje is committed to helping you fight your charges and overcome them so you can move on with the rest of your life.

How Often are Innocent People Convicted of Crimes?

Every year there are many cases in which people are arrested for crimes that they are not guilty of committing. If you are arrested for a crime, just being innocent may not be enough to avoid a conviction. There is no way to calculate the actual number of people who are falsely convicted of crimes because most people when arrested will claim they did not engage in any criminal activity. With modern DNA technology, though, accurately connecting someone to a crime or exonerating them of the act is more commonplace.

Even when looking at old convictions, DNA has been able to show that some individuals who have been languishing away in jail for years were convicted unfairly. There have been hundreds of cases of individuals who were convicted of crimes and have been vindicated through the use of DNA evidence. Approximately 21 people who were awaiting their death sentence were exonerated when DNA evidence was introduced. 

There are several professionals who dedicate their time examining criminal convictions to determine if they are legitimate or if they were mistaken. According to these individuals, as many as 5% of people who are convicted of serious criminal activity are innocent of those crimes. When you add in the large numbers of people who are wrongly arrested for crimes and have skilled legal counsel that help them avoid convictions, it becomes clear that innocent people are unfairly thrown into the criminal justice system all the time.

Speak With an Experienced San Diego Attorney Today

The police are going to provide as much evidence against you as they are able to gather, and the prosecution is going to aggressively attack you to get a guilty verdict. You cannot take any chances when it comes to your freedom. The Law Offices of David M. Boertje will provide you with the most persuasive and powerful defense strategy based on the details of your case. You can have your case professionally reviewed by the capable and talented California criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of David M. Boertje by calling (619) 229-1870 for the San Diego office or (760) 476-0901 for the Carlsbad location.

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