Joe Amrine
_________________________
State: Missouri
County: Cole
Convicted: 1986
Exonerated: 2003
Race: African American
DNA used in exoneration: No
Reasons for wrongful or false conviction:
False or misleading forensic evidence, perjury or false accusation, official misconduct, inadequate legal defense
Joseph Amrine was wrongfully convicted of murdering a fellow inmate, largely based on the testimonies of three jailhouse informants. Notably, a prison guard testified that one of these informants was, in fact, the real perpetrator. After spending 17 years on death row, the Missouri Supreme Court vacated his conviction, and the prosecution subsequently dropped all charges against him in July 2003.
In 2004, Joe filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in Kansas City, Missouri, against a prosecutor, two investigators, and a deputy sheriff, alleging violations of his civil rights, conspiracy, and malicious prosecution. However, on February 6, 2007, a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the lawsuit.
Joe's wrongful conviction exemplifies the grave issues within the criminal justice system, including the reliance on perjured testimony and the failures of legal representation, which ultimately led to his years of unjust imprisonment.
Joe Amrine work today:
Joe Amrine has made exceptional contributions to criminal justice reform and is deeply passionate about changing the system to prevent the wrongful incarceration of innocent individuals.
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