Wrongful Convictions: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

John Oliver explains why it’s so difficult to be exonerated for a wrongful conviction, even when there’s compelling evidence to prove your innocence, and how we can correct the state’s mistakes.
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[@rgwak]

Fun fact: The DA who sought the death penalty for -Maria- Melissa Lucio was later convicted of taking bribes and corruption and is currently serving 14 years. EDIT: To correct the name. My bad. High af sunday night.

[@iTube4U]

@@chrismills7371 wait really ?

[@JGD44]

If true... Fucking karma

[@chrismills7371]

@@iTube4U look up the case!

[@chrismills7371]

@@JGD44 look up the case!

[@roxannwatson8896]

@@chrismills7371 So, automatically it was Maria? Let's not investigate, just grab someone close. Do the bite marks resemble her dental work? Did that come out in the hearing?

[@arhyvrapisa]

I don't know who said this but I think this sentiment is correct: "The US doesn't have a justice system, it has a legal system."

[@growthmindset848]

To whomever is reading this - wishing you the best morning/night - remember, what we think, we become 🧠💰

[@TurbopropPuppy]

really it has a capitalist system which drenches every aspect of life in the profit motive gotta make that sweet sweet private prison industry money (and get some nice carceral slave labour out of it too)

[@witchesofessex1]

Uh, according to the law, it's barely legal 🤔😏

[@FlanaFugue]

@@growthmindset848 We become brain money?

[@jounik]

Much like the US doesn't have a healthcare system, it has a health _insurance_ system.

[@yc1940]

Mellisa Lucio's execution was halted and she's gonna get a new trial. Her attorney told her on the phone that she got to wake up on Thursday morning. John Oliver continues to amaze me after all these seasons. Huge respect to the show and the entire team.

[@pscyking]

Sauce?

[@yc1940]

@@pscyking on the side, please

[@jeremysellors9405]

For saving the life of someone who killed her child? Look at court documents and evidence, not social media posts and tv.

[@LlartyVoz]

@@jeremysellors9405 We don't know if she killed her child. Was she neglectful? Sure. Is that worth the death penalty? I'd say no.

[@ayelemensah8816]

@@jeremysellors9405 I’m gonna be honest, even if she did kill here own child, hearing that she was supposed to be executed seemed crazy to me! I’m fairly anti-death penalty so that’s most of the reason of my sentiment but also it seemed like a somewhat disproportionate sentence.

[@PerfectDescent]

Way to go John, Melissa Lucio's execution has been stayed for 120 days. Your episode shed light on a huge problem with the amount of wrongfully convicted people. You helped save her life with your very thorough investigative journalism. Thank you.

[@missmaddiemack]

Oh thank everything, I just looked it up to make sure. I freaked out when he said she was scheduled for execution on the 27th. That's so soon, hopefully she is released, or her sentence is at the very least lessened. Bc if we can't hope for exoneration, we can at least hope she doesn't get killed

[@jeremysellors9405]

@@missmaddiemack shes guilty

[@Canada1994]

Will she get released though that's the real question. At least the 'John Oliver effect' happened again

[@matthewgagnon9426]

@@jeremysellors9405 There's literally no evidence to prove she's guilty. If I beat and berated the shit out of you for 24+ hours you'd confess to whatever I told you to confess to too.

[@beelzemobabbity]

@@jeremysellors9405 and how would you ever know that? Unless you’re gonna tell me you’re the baby you don’t know, and never will.

[@iamV10010]

"Guilty until proven rich or lucky" I can not think of a more succinct and accurate way to describe America's legal system. Utterly real and unimaginably terrifying.

[@lordnavjot5921]

true af

[@KingLarbear]

Wow this is accurate

[@KingLarbear]

You should add the word "pretty or popular"

[@Gardstyle35]

guilty until proven innocent is the standart feminist work for. #believe all women...

[@TheMaxAwesome]

Don’t ignore the obvious advantage of being white. 7:1 black vs white wrongful convictions. 7 to fucking 1. That’s insane.

[@mburnsdesign]

“Guilty until proven rich or lucky” a statement like that just stays with you holy shit

[@asap855]

💯% facts

[@thikim7056]

ok

[@Felishamois]

I'm sure glad that they spoke about this, but knowing how easily in the past the show has encouraged campaigns to call your senator or whatever, it seems criminally negligent to just end the show on a sad note, without call for action.

[@chrisprilloisebola]

cringe

[@duongchuc1834]

ok

[@ahmadhesham1389]

The "Is the queen dead?" joke definitely hits different right now.

[@DavidMathis-RakuGoku]

As someone who was forced to take a guilty plea by both my public defender & sheriff, I stand behind every single word you said. They made sure my appeal paperwork never left the prison I was in. They even had the AUDACITY to bring it back to me & rip it up in my face, insuring that I'd missed the deadline 😭

[@mikecurtin9831]

I've also heard it expressed as, "Innocent until proven broke." This explains a lot. Thanks for this.

[@newciouss]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoWcdYuAqdyWhdk..

[@doubleecho1980]

As Johnny Cochran once said “The color of justice is green”

[@brenninoliphant]

I've heard that "being innocent is a misdemeanor." And yeah, it was a judge who said it.

[@dietotaku]

the penal system is just the enforcement arm of capitalism fleecing the poor and enslaving them when they can't pay any more. see also: cops killing black people for having outstanding warrants for unpaid traffic tickets, pulling them over on made-up violations like "busted tail light," flagrant 4th amendment violations, it's all designed to keep poor people in chains and keep POC poor. slavery was never actually abolished, it was just redefined.

[@ctg4818]

Prisons are slave labor factories

[@KaiDoesArt]

In 2010 I was arrested for a murder my mother commited. I was picked up after school and told someone wanted to talk to me about her case at the station. I was never told miranda rights or cuffed or actually arrested at all. At the station I all of a sudden was booked and when I asked why they didnt answer me. The next day I was told there was a warrent for my arrest but they would not tell me what my charge was. Over a week later I finally had an initial appearence and it wasnt until then I was told I was charged with murder and a grand jury had already met to vote whether or not to pursue the death penalty. Let me emphasize 12 people talked about whether or not I should die BEFORE I even knew what I was charged with. I fought as hard as I could and was held in county jail for over a year before ever being convicted or sentenced to anything. I turned down every plea deal because I didnt do it. Finally a prosecutor came to visit me without my lawyer and said if I take this to trial theyre trying me for accessory because my mom already said I did it and would even testify against me to get a shorter sentence for herself, but if I took a plea deal for assault Id be guarenteed to be released within a couple years. Admitting to an assault I never commited just so I could go home went against everything I believed in, but I had already been in jail for 14 months at that point. I asked to talk to my lawyer first and he outright said if I didnt sign it then the plea deal was off the table completely. I missed my brother and sister so much and just wanted to go home and so I signed it. I was sentenced 18 months with time served so after 4 months in prison I was finally able to go home. But a viloent felony will be on my record forever and has greatly affected my life. I was only 18 and never did it but was bullied into saying I did. If that doesnt show how broken the judicial system is, I dont know what will.

[@mk1st]

“I was arrested for a murder my mother committed” Wha??? You should write a book about this.

[@KaiDoesArt]

@@mk1st you know Ive been told that before and thought it might not do well but Ive been taking loads of writing classes on skillshare and kind of want to.

[@sdfkjgh]

@@KaiDoesArt: I hope the statute of limitations isn't expired on the miscarriages inflicted on you. You have a VERY strong case for, at the very least, expungement of your record, if not suing the city, police, and the grand jury. I hope your lawyer is very good, as with all that corruption, even the strongest cases can be buried by a further conspiracy that would make Watergate look like a bunch of schoolchildren hiding something from teacher. Bon chance, mon ami.

[@KaiDoesArt]

@@sdfkjgh the last time i tried getting my case looked into I was told by a lawyer that because I took the plea deal I cant do anything to have it expunged from my record. Itwas a federal charge.

[@mk1st]

@@KaiDoesArt Well, you did a pretty good job of describing what happened in a few sentences so I think you're on the write (ha) track.

[@WPPatriot]

Good god. The fact that John is able to continue so eloquently after hearing that prosecutor blame Melissa for her Death Penalty is just amazing. I probably wouldn't be able to SEE the teleprompter from rage, let alone read from it.

[@Storm_x]

This is the day Melissa Lucio was supposed to be executed but she dodged it in the last day or two. Her execution was stayed after renewed light which was partly thanks to this episode.

[@porkchop4401]

Holy shit. Seriously!? I would say thats great but she still had to endure what she went though. Watching the cops try to get a confession out of her had my ears red. I don't think i could have held it together. I would have snapped at them. UGH! I need to go hug my baby girl.

[@lw3269]

How can someone who is literally inside a sheriff's office when murders took place be convicted of the crime? Insanity.

[@matthewmillburg3933]

Oh I know! He's black!

[@herlegz6969]

This is the norm. Prosecution is profits and it takes precedence over truth. Justice is long dead.

[@crapshot321]

@@matthewmillburg3933 Yup! that's about it. Prosecutors needed a conviction, so they blamed a black man and got him sent to prison. Any wonder why most African-Americans are at least wary of police?

[@ramen6833]

@@matthewmillburg3933 reminds me of that south park clip where that white guy was being dragged away from his home after killing his wife. "IT WASN'T ME OFFICERS!! IT WAS A BLACK GUY!! HE WAS BLAAAAAAACK" lol

[@nadijo6327]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWqmoX5ma8-prMU

[@WillRennar]

Long story short: we should always be *_infinitely_* more willing to risk letting a guilty man go free than to risk letting an innocent man be punished...because if we let an innocent man be punished, *_we've still let a guilty man go free._*

[@whitflores8160]

Damn you said it 👏

[@newciouss]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoWcdYuAqdyWhdk..

[@wolftitanreading5308]

And when they release that guilty man and they kill or harm your loves one you can go. But at least justice was served.

[@prideguy3233]

@@wolftitanreading5308 What if one of your loved ones are wrongly convicted

[@wolftitanreading5308]

@@prideguy3233 flat out if one of my family was found guilty lf a crime they would be dead too me especially if it was guilty of murder or worst. But as i said what if one of those release guilty members were free cause of a bs what if they were innocent and they commit a crime. I say its blood on the hands of the people who let thay shit go. But i guess you'd be fine letting Ted Bundy or john wayne Gasey out

[@RyanEglitis]

A perfect example of why you never talk to police. "What's your name?" "Lawyer."

[@HughJass-jv2lt]

❤❤

[@flyaround312]

"What's your name?" is actually the one thing that you ARE legally required to answer in most places

[@mnschoen]

"Lawyer" isn't a request. And depending on the state you can ask for a lawyer and still answer questions. "Asking for a lawyer" and "I kept running my mouth because I thought nothing I said counted because I said the l-word" isn't the same thing. You can and should ask for a lawyer. That DOES NOT mean that shit you spew between asking for a lawyer and the lawyer showing up is out of bounds.

[@Onigirli]

@@mnschoen "That DOES NOT mean that shit you spew between asking for a lawyer and the lawyer showing up is out of bounds." Nobody even fucking thinks that, the original comment says never to talk to them. Who are you responding to?

[@HoldenTudiks81]

In 2020, I found out I was charged with a felony in 2019. In the state of South Carolina for an felony assault..that I didn’t know about. I live in North Carolina and hadn’t even left the state that entire year. Even after sending Google transcript location data to show everywhere I was for the entire year, work clock in and out times, Gym punch in and out times, work vehicle GPS tracking location. The police in Columbia South Carolina would only tell me that I needed to come down there be arrested go through the entire process to prove my innocence. After a private detective friend helping me track down my own information and having to get my parents to pay a lawyer. Several months later they finally got the case thrown out as far as I know. All I received was a email saying that the case was dropped no other documentation. When I finally received a copy of the police report the description of the suspect was Black 5’5 - 5’6 220 pounds. I’m 5’11 closer to 6 feet 280lb , One of the officers I spoke to on the phone told me my face was picked out of a lineup. I have never been arrested for anything in my life. I did work for the state of South Carolina as a correctional officer 15-20 years ago.

[@portlandsamber]

Holy moly. What a scary world we live in. I hope you're doing okay now.

[@AttaBek1422]

So what I’m hearing is that they couldn’t find the suspect so they picked a random black dude from their files (you) and charged you with the felony?

[@Fabzil]

All I heard is that you're black. That's prob enough

[@ammaleslie509]

@@AttaBek1422 This Happens Every Day

[@AttaBek1422]

@@ammaleslie509 Bruh surely not

[@christianschoff2490]

I am straight up crying. What a waste of an existence that prosecutor is.

[@Robbie_S]

He is serving 14 years in prison

[@christianschoff2490]

@@Robbie_S Alfredo is?

[@liambrinton9935]

@@christianschoff2490 yeah. On bibery charges or something like that (according to another comment)

[@meelybug1239]

@@christianschoff2490 No, he's not. In fact, he was not Melissa's original prosecutor. The one who is in jail (house arrest or halfway house, as of December 2020) is Melissa's prosecutor- Armando Villalobos.

[@lenkleodani]

Wrongful convictions are a problem in which the whole world is involved not just the us.....just like the Ukranian war, and frankly, despite the "main story" sounds unbelievably important.....it cannot top the war in any way whatsoever and seeing this show, which dedicated many main stories to facts and people from "abroad" (like the one about lukashenko, to cite just one of the closest) reducing a potential world war to a 7 minutes opening is unbelievably unjustified.....and I am starting to think that there's maybe a reason for that....some biased reason (from an italian fan)

[@coaltowking]

This episode hits a lot harder knowing that someone is almost certainly going to be murdered next month because of our terrible court system.

[@greenbubbleboy5673]

I don't live in Texas. But I really want to call them and demand they do an appeal

[@sloaneglover1026]

More than one person, I'm sure

[@ZentaBon]

@@greenbubbleboy5673 actually do it! Why the hell not? Show that people even outside the state are interested in justice, it applies pressure and it works!!!

[@georgesos]

I will.

[@claudia1rod1]

I don’t think she should be executed but she is guilty. The eldest daughter living with her at the time has come out to say she did it and she was abusive towards the baby. The other children in the documentary were not living with her at the time. Also all of Melissa Lucio’s kids had been removed from her custody if you read the report from child protective service it’s terrible. The baby who died was removed at a few months old or weeks (can’t remember)and had only been back in her mothers care for less than 3 months before she died. There is a real informative youtube video someone reads the coroner’s findings and the CPS report its very heart breaking but she’s guilty.

[@katrinka9781]

I watched this the day before Melissa's trial. They have JUST halted her execution due to new evidence. I'm saddened that it even got this close for them to do so.

[@nishilbutala4513]

omg i was hoping to find this comment bc im like holy shit tomorrows the 27th

[@katrinka9781]

@@nishilbutala4513 No like same! I was watching it last night, looked at the date and FREAKED OUT. Quick google check and I breathed a little easier.

[@katrinka9781]

@Daniel Kavanagh 100% Fucked.

[@allisoncastle]

There are no words to describe how evil it is that some prosecutors want to keep people locked up when they KNOW they are innocent. How can you live with yourself???? I am SOOO grateful for progressive prosecutors, but it seems like they are so hard to find.

[@sethb1689]

Imo the only people who deserve the death sentence are those who go out of their way to prevent innocent people from proving their innocence and especially those who do so for people they know for a fact are innocent.

[@allisoncastle]

@@sethb1689 right!

[@johnfreeman440]

I'd hold the phone on 'progressive' prosecutors celebration. Being fair and open minded does not mean that we should be relaxing sentencing guidelines and bail policies all around the way that many of them seem to be. A progressive prosecutor was booted from office in both San Francisco and St. Louis because even the far Left progressives that voted for them realized that feeling safe in your homes and cities outweighs some political ideaology.

[@ianbattles7290]

These prosecutors are remorseless sociopaths - there is no other explanation for their complete failure to care about the truth or reality.

[@eastwoodsgolfer]

Prosecutorial misconduct should be a felony, and in a death penalty case it should be a murder charge

[@Kurgosh1]

They can't even be sued in most cases, let alone criminally prosecuted.

[@KingCloudsCape]

this would definitely make people think twice

[@jasonsilverman3125]

1000%. I can imagine no greater injustice than executing an innocent person.

[@wolftitanreading5308]

@@jasonsilverman3125 which is why we dont execute innocent people but guilty criminals

[@Gloomdrake]

@@wolftitanreading5308 no, it's why we need to abolish the death penalty, full stop

[@Toxic21]

When cops are allowed to lie, forcing confessions with their emotional words, it isn't justice. It's coersion.

[@pa5666]

And disgusting.

[@bae896]

If we've learned anything from this, never speak to police without your lawyer present. Your right to remain silent is a right overlooked.

[@nofyfb123]

@@bae896 I personally witnessed a fkng lawyer openly selling his client out so don't hold your breath.

[@aliioana8586]

@@bae896 yep!! We’ve been conditioned to think only guilty people ask for an attorney. EVERYONE SHOULD ASK FOR AN ATTORNEY AS SOON AS THEY’RE MIRANDIZED!

[@aliioana8586]

@@nofyfb123 that clearly qualifies as ineffective counsel. And if the attorney does this before any ruling is made, you have the right to fire them

[@tomjohnson7368]

My experience serving on a jury convinced me that we should just have professional jurors.

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

Elaborate.

[@hoodiesticks]

Wouldn't a "professional juror" just be a judge?

[@tomjohnson7368]

@@hoodiesticks Yes, though a judge acts unilaterally.

[@tomjohnson7368]

@@youtubeuniversity3638 I believe our layman's understanding of legal issues (as well as of medical issues in the specific case) was inadequate despite the quick primers we received. Plus some jurors were so anxious to wrap it up and get back to their regular lives there was some pressure to rush a decision. Which is often quite understandable due to scarcely compensated job disruptions (galling to learn medical experts meanwhile got hundreds of dollars per hour for their testimony). Jurors should be fully trained in the law and a dedicated human resource subject to professional codes. FWIW I also wish attorneys could be cross examined.

[@AholeAtheist]

In the meantime, as many people as possible should know about jury nullification. You can find someone not guilty as a juror for whatever reason you see fit.

[@liamc7070]

My grandmother was an appeals lawyer: she was told at the beginning of her career that she should expect “never to win a case” (her words)

[@LilianaKali]

That's effed up

[@seanjarrell5198]

"You're basically saying we should retrial cases every 15-17 years" That... That sounds like a great idea actually.

[@leahvogel5527]

Glad I'm not alone bcuz that's _exactly_ what I thought

[@nolidee4917]

It really is

[@edmmitch]

It's definitely not if you think about it for more than 2 seconds

[@nolidee4917]

@@edmmitch if you were one of the 10% who were wrongfully convicted you wouldn't feel that way now would you?

[@edmmitch]

@@nolidee4917 10 percent... Jesus Christ

[@dalkurd1]

Even if the people who get wrongfully convicted gets money, no amount of money can make up for lost time. Life is so unfair

[@roxannwatson8896]

Kevin Strickland in Missouri served over 40 years in prison, Innocent and released November 2021 received zero compensation. However, go fund me raised over a Million dollars, and it took the governor weeks to sign his release.

[@dalkurd1]

@@roxannwatson8896 Zero compensation? What the hell. America is messed up

[@999GHz]

life isn't unfair the system is unfair. dismantle the system.

[@dalkurd1]

@@999GHz I mean, wars, suicide, accidents, murders, the list can go on. You are right ofcourse but I meant in general

[@jonbongjovi1869]

I HAVE BEATEN OVER 40 FALSE ARRESTS (for speech!!!) in AMERIKKKA so far. Even the ACLU sided with Giuliani over free speech, freedom of the press, etc! I HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH FICTIONAL CRIMES like"ATTEMPTED contempt of court" (!!!) and "ATTEMPTED harassment of city hall" (!!!!!!!!), and 100% of "Journalists" and "civil liberatarians" helped KKKOPS cover it all up! THEY STOLE MY TEENS, MY 20s, MY 30s, MY 40s, and my 50s.....FROM ME, with NO END IN SIGHT. How much money makes up for those decades??? Far Worse: not ONE human sided with me or free speech.....OVER RUDY GIULIANI. (!!!!!!!) (100% Of my best friends, my bandmates, my girlfriends, my co-worker journalists like Matt Taibbi.....EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS SIDED WITH GIULIANI for the past 35 years!!) WE NEED TO BURN EVERY MANSION DOWN, to start with.

[@macaryl95]

"We're trying to find out who did it" "YOU DID IT ADMIT IT WE NEED A CONFESSION"

[@perkeyser2032]

I've been in a situation where I had to prove my innocence. It's a game you can't win. And you feel more helpless than you have ever done. There is no help, and after a very short time, you realize there is no hope.

[@ianbattles7290]

Few things in life are more frustrating than being accused of something you didn't do.

[@bettywhiteandtheboondockers]

Just got pulled over in Reno for a minor traffic infraction and the cop told me that my friendliness and full cooperation with him was suspicious. It was suspicious that I told him where my wallet was before I reached for it, suspicious that I told him I was going to open the glove box before I did, etc. He thought I was too nice. Then when he started questioning me about all sorts of shit, Where was I going? Where was I from? What was I doing in Reno? Why did I have a mattress in my truck-bed? OMG, NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! But, I answered all his questions and tried to remain friendly.... Then he says my story didn't add up. Yea dude, no one's story adds up when you live in a world of constant paranoia. Then, he wanted me to get out of the car and I was like "WHY? I DID NOTHING WRONG?" Then he called a K9! when I told him I was starting to feel anxious and that I have panic problems and I needed a minute to calm down, he called an ambulance and tried to have them haul me away! They refused to do so, of course, because there was no legal reason to do so and they could see that I was getting harassed by an idiot intent on escalation. Fucking cops. All these Blue Lives Matter assholes always say "just cooperate, be polite and you'll be fine". Oh Yea? Really? No. Police are trained to escalate every situation until they have a reason to arrest you and the laws are written so obscurely as to provide reasons for them. He didn't even have a concrete reason to pull me over. When I asked him, he said I was "drifting in the lane". What the heck does that even mean? Then, I'm like, if you pulled me over because you thought I was drunk, why aren't you giving me a sobriety test, go ahead breathalyze me. Because he didn't pull me over for anything except that cops just suck. F*&* the cops. Totally corrupt. I'll never call them for anything. Avoid them like the plague.

[@em8066]

Yikes, I'm glad you have light skin. I agree with you, and it doesn't help that precincts pay according to "productivity", meaning cops have to meet a quota for traffic stops/citations. I think John Oliver or the Daily Show did a piece about it, with a recorded meeting where superior officers directed their subordinates to wait for payday Fridays at low end shopping centers frequented by poor people of color and just start pulling people over. It's their word against a person who can't afford to take too much time off of work to fight in court, and sometimes can't get transportation to court and wind up with escalations in fines or warrants for arrest. It's disgusting at best and clearly dangerous. Anyway, I'm glad you're ok.

[@undertasty]

This is very much a problem with US police: they are not trained nearly enough. In Northern Europe, for example, becoming a cop takes 3-4 years of training with much emphasis on de-escalation and non-violent resolution. IMO that is the minimum it would take to fulfil the creedo to "serve and protect."

[@dethlokprime8655]

Next time don’t answer questions

[@naufaltriandiroziqi8538]

I'm wondering how many percent of police are like this

[@finnthehydra622]

As someone else in Reno, I’m sorry you had to deal with that. This city is shit tbh. Although as someone from Georgia, it’s the same elsewhere

[@marissaarmas4355]

My Dad has been serving a sentence for a wrongful conviction for the past 8 years. It's a 25 year sentence with no chance for early release. We have about exhausted every legal avenue we have to overturn the decision. It's tiring, it drains your hope, it pulls at your family, it puts you in debt. Not a day goes by that I wouldn't give everything to change things. To other families out there - you aren't alone. Which in its own way also sucks... this has no silver lining

[@naejimba]

I personally do not believe in a hell, but if you do perhaps that would be a silver lining.

[@hollys6299]

That really sucks, I'm so sorry 💔 25 years is such a long long time

[@PaperRaines]

Do you mind me asking why you're convinced he was wrongfully convicted?

[@maryo3752]

Marissa, my family is in the same position. The fantasy of a just legal system is so ingrained that I can't even tell people the situation because no one believes that innocent people get sent to prison every single day.

[@parkerg4193]

[@shaun5497]

One of his best shows. I look her up and she hasn’t been executed and her case is being reopened. Great job by the show for sure!

[@michaelfraser1073]

You can feel John's anger bursting through at the end.

[@thelastarcadegamer6655]

“Are you a cold blooded killer, or a frustrated mother?” Proof that police are not your friend. You may think they are, but you’ll realize they aren’t when they pressure you to admit to something you haven’t done. A drunk driver caused me to crash in to a guard rail, and when the police brought me in for questioning, they asked leading questions for if I had gone down a certain road that I didn’t even know the location of, and hit a parked car because the mark on that was the same color as the car I was driving at the time. Leading questions like if I didn’t remember it, if I was trying to hide that I did it, or flat out blaming me for it by stating “we know you hit something, and we’re pretty sure it was this car.” Or “we know you’re lying.” Even though the damage on the vehicle I drove clearly aligned with hitting a guard rail, they were trying to trick or force me in to confessing. And for those of you who still think police are your friend, that’s because you’ve never had to deal with them on the opposing side of things. You can do nothing wrong, and still end up with the blame, and they will do everything they can to make you guilty. They will make you uncomfortable with their questions, and the environment, making cold and causing you to go to a tighter posture and shiver, making it seem like you’re scared and hiding something. Or making it warm and humid, so you sweat and look suspicious. If you haven’t been interrogated by the police, you will never understand that they are not your friend.

[@artisticmunga9610]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaOogniFaZaDsLc

[@xxxaragon]

@Kevin Myers huh is this is relevant to what was being written here?

[@leahvogel5527]

@Kevin Myers whatever that word salad is, it has _nothing_ to do with the original comment. You're either a bot or answered the wrong persons comment Edit: spelling

[@NextMerckx]

NEVER talk to police. Take it from a former prosecutor. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml6aoGyujtVqm6c

[@richardmaggio1979]

@Kevin Myers You should really think before you type something so ignorant and stupid. And if you call that drivel a well thought out comment, consider getting tested for a learning disability.

[@annexxfu]

The idea of an innocent person getting killed for a crime she didn't commit should be more than enough reason to abolish the death penalty. This is outrageously horrifying.

[@ianbattles7290]

Not to mention that by convicting the wrong person, *the guilty person gets away with it!!!*

[@lovewenwin]

It doesn't matter what you did or did not do. It's what they can prove. And that really means a good story.

[@ianbattles7290]

The rest of your life can depend on the opinion of twelve random strangers.

[@penguiKnIGHT]

"You should understand that the greatest crimes are not crimes that go unsolved, but crimes that lay blame on the innocent. A case unsolved will always draw eyes. But a case solved with the wrong person blamed? That is a trifold sin - the crime itself, the escape of the guilty, and the injury of the innocent upon whom the blame falls." Animosity: Evolution #4, by Marguerite Bennett and Eric Gapstur.

[@kimk2635]

I'm sorry to mention Trump but this makes me think of the gap murdered in central park & him going beyond anything reasonable to have those five men killed even after proven guilty. Did he just want to kill black men or did he want to hold them responsible for his crime. Did he actually kill someone on 5th Ave? Largest criminal we've ever heard of won't even pay the price of treason three times.

[@nadijo6327]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWqmoX5ma8-prMU

[@growthmindset848]

To whomever is reading this - wishing you the best morning/night - remember, what we think, we become 🧠💰

[@luke_fabis]

“Every 15 or 17 years, we really ought to try cases again to re-establish guilt.” That’s… that’s not a bad slippery slope to go down, actually. I support this idea.

[@tehdz]

Less years than that someone innocent should not rot in prison 15 years before a retrial.

[@ZentaBon]

@@tehdz at least it's a start. We can't make all the progress at once. Many rot their whole life and die in prison sadly.

[@scaper8]

I head that too and immediately thought, "Yeah, that's actually not a bad idea."

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@ZentaBon WE CAN STOP ALL OF THIS ILLEGAL SHIT BY GOVT......in ONE MINUTE....with ONE SENTENCE. (#metoo changed the world.....without an entire sentence!) NOT ONE THING KKKOPS OR JUDGES DO IS LAWFUL, but everyone just TRUST that it IS legal, cuz "they said so"!

[@drdoominstien713]

@@tehdz The only major problem I see with this is the extra time and resources it would take up in system that is already overloaded with cases, It would just make more sense to try and make sure you got it right the first time and redo it if new compelling evidence comes to light.

[@sabina2475]

You and other journalist saved her life. Thank you and thank God.

[@jenniferaashiem6165]

This gets me so riled up! I would totally disown anybody that I know who would keep a wrongfully convicted person in jail. I love John Oliver so much. He brings up so many issues that are just not discussed. And if they are discussed they certainly are not discussed like this. Bravo, keep being awesome, John Oliver!

[@ianbattles7290]

How are these prosecutors not publicly shunned once people realize they are knowingly putting innocent people in prison???

[@Arosukir6]

Notice how they gave Maria that effed up false dichotomy? "Either you're a cold-blooded killer or a frustrated mother." Both options assume that she was responsible for the death of her daughter, with one being the "reasonable, understandable" option. That interview tactic by the cops is incredibly common. Just about every police interview I've ever seen (used to watch them for my job) has been this level of automatically accusatory; whether they're interviewing a potential suspect or just a witness. It's so disgusting.

[@jamielondon6436]

Police in the US seems to be absolutely horrible. :-(

[@Arosukir6]

@@jamielondon6436 The entire system of policing in the US has been absolutely terrible pretty much since its inception as slave-catching patrols in the country's early history. 😥 It's such that no one escapes its corruption, no matter how well-meaning they may be. This is coming from someone who also has relatives who worked as police officers. They believe that they've worked to ultimately help the communities they enforced in, and kept them safe rather than terrorized them. They might possibly be characterized as "good cops." Whether they can be considered good or bad people in and/or outside of the uniform (something pro-policing folks like to argue: "it's just some bad apples, most cops are 'good' people") ends up being a moot point. In working for that rotten-at-the-core system, they are upholding it. It really, really sucks.

[@WrightWorld]

This is precisely the reason for the 5th amendment. Sadly very few people use their right to not self-incriminate, and it leads many innocent people unfairly into the criminal justice system. Be polite, but don't engage in any conversation with a police officer regardless how innocent it seems. If pulled over while driving, present your driver's license, registration, and insurance if requested, but don't answer any questions. If they say, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" Respond with, "Thank you officer, but I have been advised not to answer any questions." If they issue you a ticket, sign and accept it, and leave. Do not consent to field sobriety tests or to letting them search you or your vehicle. If they say they'll bring a K9 unit out, then ask if you're free to go. Do not say, "sure go ahead!" - That's consenting to a search. Without probable cause they cannot detain you longer than is reasonably necessary to issue a citation. If they believe they have probable cause to arrest you, they will do so and will probably conduct a search at that time. Don't resist at that point, but still make it clear that you do not consent to be searched. If you have any doubts about any of this, or are of the mindset that you've done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide, then watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml6aoGyujtVqm6c

[@ashannaredwolf8485]

I used to do transcription for TV shows, and our company did a lot of scripts for true crime. Hearing tapes of police interviews were always horrible, they were almost always just unimaginable bullies who pulled that kind of "we already know what happened" crap all the time.

[@illuminahde]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ3Tg6ZtpKuenqM What's disgusting is not reading about a case and just watching the defense propaganda. Watch the full interview.

[@sanctuaryforthelost]

Does anybody else care that when someone is falsely convicted of a crime that means that the real criminal is still out there?

[@davidharrisiii3062]

Came back because Melissa Lucio is still alive, thanks in part to things like this bringing much needed awareness to people with the funds to do something about it, but God is it sad that it's only one case

[@spongeintheshoe]

But still on Death Row.

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

Jeff Deskovic. Was in prison since 16. Got out at 33. Saved 10 lives as a lawyer so far. A true hero.

[@growthmindset848]

To whomever is reading this - wishing you the best morning/night - remember, what we think, we become 🧠💰

[@isabelled.7732]

I’ve met him. Incredible guy.

[@vxxiii4160]

In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40k there's a faction that is pretty much an intergalactic Inquisition whose motto is " _Innocence proves nothing_ ". You'd think something messed up like that would only be from a grimdark fantasy universe but apparently the US justice system keeps proving that sometimes reality can be as bad if not worse than fiction.

[@voodoodummie]

Warhammer is much like the Onion, in that when they create some dark but funny scenario, purely intended to be absurd, that some knobhead with power nods their heads and thinks it is an absolutely splendid idea to use.

[@carlbrittain1993]

The fact that the Inquisition, somehow, isn't exponentially worse than the US legal system is incredibly depressing.

[@user-kp8dh5wu2n]

“Truth,” said Mark Twain, “is stranger than fiction, because fiction has to be possible and truth doesn't.

[@SCP30851]

Never thought about comparing US with warhammer40k😂do you know khorne berzerk?🤣

[@n3var5]

seeing allot of heresy in these replies

[@zm5132]

"Is the queen dead?" Lol watching this after she died hits different 🤣

[@meintveldman4769]

Judge : "If we find he is innocent should we still execute them?" District attorney : " Yes your honor." People like this should be in jail for attempted murder instead of the ones they convicted. Not figuratively, but literally.

[@wolftitanreading5308]

Hilarious since your wanting to let real murderers out and free to cause harm

[@pandapip1]

​@@wolftitanreading5308an innocent charged with murder necessarily means that there is also a guilty murderer, in your words, "out and free to cause harm"

[@wolftitanreading5308]

@@pandapip1 yes the same can be out out that the guilty man is released because he convinced mouth breathers like you he was innocent, and you just let him free to kill again

[@wolftitanreading5308]

@@pandapip1 yes the same can be out out that the guilty man is released because he convinced mouth breathers like you he was innocent, and you just let him free to kill again

[@wolftitanreading5308]

@@pandapip1 yes the same can be out out that the guilty man is released because he convinced mouth breathers like you he was innocent, and you just let him free to kill again

[@oskrm]

It's a system that looks at convictions as numbers, not people.

[@cicero4272]

Mos Def was so far ahead of his time with "Mathematics".

[@privateemail9755]

Corporations are people, humans are assets. It's the law as it stands now, at least functionally, by technicality.

[@josemathews96]

These people are living in the Milgram Experiment. Systems as corrupt as this one, breeds Communists/Marxists.

[@XxThunderflamexX]

Funny you say that. Did you know bigotry is positively correlated with denial of natural selection? It turns out, when you think there's some unmeasurable magic that makes humans special, it's real easy to declare that "those people" just don't have that magic, that they're not special like we are. The US has always been a white ethnostate, targeting people for cruelty up to and including enslavement, to entertain the delusions of grandeur of an oligarchy.

[@codynagy2872]

And it wants those numbers as high a they can make it.

[@teksight9714]

The DA responsible for Maria Lucio's conviction was convicted himself: "On Feb. 11, 2014, Villalobos was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, jurors in Villalobos’ trial found that he solicited and accepted over $100,000 in bribes and kickbacks in the form of cash and campaign contributions in return for favorable acts of prosecutorial discretion."

[@georgesos]

I so hope he doesn't have a nice time in there... Some lifer will send him a message before he gets out...

[@Kurgosh1]

So her real crime was not having enough money to bribe the DA.

[@Brett_S_420]

Every single case that was prosecuted under his tenure should be redone.

[@stevebonk8995]

@@Brett_S_420 exactly this Every. Single. One. Maybe especially the ones where they didn’t prosecute due to “financial favors”.

[@rcwlson1]

Ah yes the old convicted of being not white in Texas verdict.

[@caunteya]

That's a sad state of affairs. Extremely frustrating and heartbreaking.

[@mevenstien]

Amen John Oliver !!!

[@obsursion]

"The state fought to keep him locked up" If that isn't proof of institutional slavery being weaponized in the form of incarceration then I don't know what is.

[@shayboogie3682]

That phrase right there was a fairly accurate descriptor of the judicial system for poor people and people of color…. It’s equal parts sad and infuriating!

[@jonbongjovi1869]

OUCH: NY STATE is the WORLD capital of FORCED SLAVE LABOR (Prisons with massive factories in them!)...and 99% of those slaves....came from NYC.... (to fill all the 70 prisons (!!!) across the state, all of them ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT so the locals have jobs...meaning they HAVE to arrest more brown ppl, get it?).....and yet....GUESS where the WORLD CAPITAL OF MEDIA IS. NYC. Weird that Oliver, Colbert, The Daily Show, and ALL THE REST JUST LET THE SUPER-NAZIS KIDNAP NYC CITIZENS DAILY FOR SLAVE LABOR CAMPS UPSTATE. Hmmm. (And of course California has the 2nd most SLAVE LABOR CAMPS on earth, cuz they save a LOT of money forcing PRISONERS to fight forest fires!)

[@nesamdoom]

being paid pennies a day under the false idea that it's a job.. not saying you're wrong, just another side to a coin with many sides of the same shit.

[@immortalsun]

Hearing that the innocent mother is being executed next _month_ made me tear up. What the fuck…

[@Missconduct044]

Anyone know if anything is trying to be done?

[@RealLiveWire]

@Alam natural delete your comment. Now.

[@STDealer]

@@RealLiveWire kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2PXkKScep2Lers

[@MrLaylapattie]

@@Missconduct044 there’s a petition on the Innocence Project’s website going around! Go to their website and sign and send letters to Greg Abbott’s idiot office. Speaking as a Texan currently living in Texas, please do us that favor!

[@ianbraun271]

@@RealLiveWire anytime you see these types of comments, report them.

[@song9119]

Many Prosecutors have that strong tunnel-vision and mindset of “we must always win”, when they operate this way they will justify lots of misconduct such as withholding favorable evidence and information and lots more, instead of focusing on Justice and truth they are so addicted to winning at all costs, to build up their legacy on this flawed mindset

[@MrAgorar]

also any DA/Prosecutor that tries to be different gets replaced by the system really quickly, so that the prisons can keep being stocked full of people.

[@sarahclegg7548]

my brother is currently in prison for a wrongful conviction in missouri. He is serving a life sentence, and they did not do any dna testing. they did not call witnesses who were there. they arrested him and immediately he was treated as guilty. i cant talk to many people about the fact that he is in prison because they automatically assume he is guilty and a horrible person. he's served 4 years so far. he missed my wedding. it feels like a nightmare that will never end. thank you for bringing awareness to this issue, and fuck everyone who fights to keep innocent people in prison

[@shannonhensley2942]

Its horrible. And many times that its found the original person committing the crime goes on to do even more heinous crimes. I hope he gets justice and receives real reparations for it.

[@erebostd]

I’m baffled how the US don’t have riots every day. We might have many problems here in Europe, and it’s no paradise either, but at least you get help if you have no job, you get vacation if you need it, you get medical aid if you are sick and you get a second and third chance if you are convicted. Yeah, it’s a lot of work for the system, and judges are struggling with too much work. But at least you have a chance to proof your innocence. Oh, and we don’t kill people in prisons. Treating them like human beings is a proof that we are human, even if their actions keep them there until they die…

[@TwoMarshmallows1]

That's horrific. I'm so sorry.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

I'VE BEEN ROBBED AND JAILED AND TORTURED for....a "B" MISDEMEANOR CHARGE of....ATTEMPTED contempt!! (Doesn't exist!) I've BEEN ROBBED AND JAILED AND TORTURED.......numerous times.....for my CLOTHING!!! I've been jaild for PLAYING UKE!! I SPENT 2 YEARS IN RIKERS ISLAND.....for the crime of PLAYING GUITAR IN MY OWN CONCERT!!! (My ex lied to get an R.O. and when I told the judge she's just gonna come to my concerta and I'm off to jail.....they all said THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN, but it happened TWICE in two UNRELATED cases!! EVEN WORSE: I knew she was coming to my show so I had FOUR bodyguards BLOCK HER from even entering the bldg where I was playing!!! So how's THAT for "Violating an order of proection" EVERYONE knows this system is corrupt in EVERY way.) CUz AMERIKKKA IS GONNA AMERIKKKA.

[@victorseaton9123]

Contact The Innocence Project if you haven’t already.

[@theinternets7516]

My dad is a retired cop. As long as I can remember he's told us that if we're arrested, no matter what the police tell us we're not to say a word without an attorney. He's also always said that people get the best justice they can afford. Based on this episode I'd say that's sound advice and an astute observation.

[@Archgeek0]

It's also completely unacceptable. I've no idea why we collectively put up with such a predatory excuse for a system of justice. Cowardice, I guess? Self-satisfied indolence as long as we're not the ones in the jaws of the machine?

[@antonbrakhage490]

@@Archgeek0 Because we've been conditioned by "tough on crime" propaganda (often rooted in racism) to equate "suspect" with "guilty", and to think that "guilty" people (read: anyone whose accused) does not deserve rights. Try to change it, even a little, and be accused of being "soft on crime", and supporting murder, rape, child molestation, etc. We've been taught to think that if someone is found not guilty, they've tricked their way out of justice, and that public defenders are sleazy scumbags defending brutal criminals (which is why the imminent appointment of the first ever public defender to the Supreme Court is nearly as significant, in my view, as the fact that she'll be the first Black woman appointed to the court).

[@sugoruyo]

Only three words you should ever say to cops if they haul your ass in: lawyer, water, bathroom. In order of acceptability.

[@Chtulhu1204]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml6aoGyujtVqm6c This video, where a lawyer and a cop talk about what you should do if a police officer asks you just about anything. Best part is, you can make yourself a criminal, even if you are a witness to something. You say one word in the heat of the moment, or you want to tell the truth so badly that you embellish the truth. Now that cop has just caught you in a lie. Then the games can begin. You lied to an officer of the law, what else could you be doing? And that's enough reason to get you arrested and your home searched. In Norway, all a police officer has to have in order to get a search warrant for just about anything is say they have "a discernible reason". AKA my gut feeling, my private suspicions/prejudices, my arse twitched etc. After that, anything the police finds is evidence against you. There is no saving grace, barring of course nepotism and corruption. Norway learnt to much from the sorry states of America.

[@tweaker1bms]

Yes, where was her lawyer?!

[@bluegreen8593]

love rewatching this episode after the queens death

[@MistikCo]

11:42 This hits different when you watch this months later and the queen is actually dead

[@PMac13]

If you are ever questioned by the police you should only know one word: "lawyer."

[@Vohlfied]

"I don't wish to discuss my day. Am I being detained?" No: "Then am I free to go?" Yes: "I want to speak with an attorney." and you STFU.

[@NextMerckx]

Because of some stupid rulings in the last ten years you actually might have to explicitly invoke your Fifth Amendment right by saying “I want my attorney AND am invoking my right to remain silent.”

[@PMac13]

Long story short we call 1312 not 911

[@1truek269]

Facts! Even if you're innocent. I have both witnessed and experienced police misusing statements made to them. Don't say a word other than LAWYER. Don't even give your name!

[@morganqorishchi8181]

No, they can deny you a lawyer unless you explicitly say "I am invoking my right to an attorney and my right to remain silent." "Lawyer" will not compel them to get you your lawyer in and of itself.

[@Vante21]

This one made me sick to my stomach. The fact that a punishment so extreme could be overturned by something as simple as speaking to one person or looking at the actual evidence can be totally justified because "I don't wanna" makes me want to cry.

[@thomasmichael2766]

It really is monstrously disgusting. Is there a petition for this woman?

[@kbowman772]

@@thomasmichael2766 There is now.

[@malum9478]

makes me wanna rip off heads. some specific heads at that.

[@chrisprilloisebola]

yes thats the point of a cherry picked case

[@EleneDOM]

@@chrisprilloisebola There are quite a few of these, though.

[@markcannon3899]

John, you give us moments to smile and laugh, even during the most serious of topics, and I thank you for that. All humour aside, what you do matters a great deal. Never stop shining that light. Great stuff. Even though I make fun of the way you say, "Lore & Order"

[@EricRoberts2112]

I did a contract gig many years ago...as a web developer...with the Northwestern School of Law Library. One of the sites I worked on was their Wrongful Conviction Clinic. The stories were heartbreaking. We need to do more to fix this.

[@DrSanity7777777]

"Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." - James Baldwin

[@zizimugen4470]

“Where’s the money, Lebowski?” It’s not ignorance. Follow the money.

[@Meme_Lor]

Thank you Baldwin I never think about for being so right

[@Mark_Chandler]

and yet trump isnt behind bars.

[@lilBabyBornInCalifornia]

what about Alec Baldwin?

[@TheShatarEUisMyHome]

"What am I? A peasant?" - Alec Baldwin

[@smth.something]

"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer." - William Blackstone

[@wintertrooper7918]

"It is better to execute 100 innocent people than take time to fix broke shit" - American justice system

[@thrawncaedusl717]

I’m curious if you actually agree with that statement. There is a way that we can assure that there are practically no wrongful convictions; have a standard of evidence so high that even 90% of guilty people are acquitted. Are you actually advocating for that?

[@nsahandler]

@@thrawncaedusl717 you mean that the Prosecutor's should have to prove guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt?"

[@thrawncaedusl717]

@@nsahandler It’s similar. In theory 1% of people in prison should be wrongfully convicted. In practice, that may be as high as 20% (I’ve seen higher numbers from some places, but I didn’t trust them). That is because people actually don’t like the idea that 90+% of murders/assaults do not get convicted. We need to balance the number of wrongful convictions with the number who get away with crimes. If you truly support innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, than you should accept that any defendant (especially in cases requiring proving intent) who committed the crime is about as likely to be acquitted as convicted. We clearly do not accept that, which is the reason we don’t actually follow innocent until proven guilty (if we did, then there is no way Bill Cosby would have been found guilty). There is a tradeoff, and I just want honest discussion about it.

[@mitchmiecielica5017]

@@Gardstyle35 literally no one is advocating that. People are advocating we believe claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault like we believe claims of muggings and robberies. Trust but verify in the legal contexts and not as extraordinary and esoteric claims in private dealings.

[@voltjmgaming2119]

Wrongful convictions are precisely why I'm becoming a lawyer.

[@TheJerbol]

I can't imagine a law more heinous than one called "Effective Death Penalty"

[@shitty_beatles]

from the texas observer's article on Maria Lucio: "Court records show that one Ranger zeroed in on Lucio as a suspect soon after the death, mainly because she seemed subdued and kept looking down while being questioned. " Being subdued and looking down. Because your child just died, and you're not a sociopath.

[@o00gourou00o]

And if you don't look down, then it means you're also a suspect because you seem unaffected by the death

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

There are people in this country who believe that if someone goes to prison, they _must_ have done something wrong. These people think they'll never be wrongly convicted, and one person in particular seemed so invested in both these ideas that she wouldn't entertain the possibility at all. She kept saying, "I'm not doing anything wrong," as though she knows every single law on the books and lives to avoid every possible criminal act (which is patently impossible).

[@saaah707]

i've heard this jaw-dropping logic more than once: "well, why did they suspect him if he hadn't done anything wrong?" it's sad really.

[@bladerunner3314]

these same people think they're bff with the creator of everything ... they live to be wrong

[@Heathcoatman]

People dont like loose ends. It's easier to think the matter is solved, next.

[@growthmindset848]

To whomever is reading this - wishing you the best morning/night - remember, what we think, we become 🧠💰

[@amityislandchum]

And nearly EVERYBODY in this country believes that nobody would ever confess to a crime they didn't commit, even though it literally happens ALL THE TIME!

[@snakelifeswolfe3764]

Lucio will now be removed from death row indefinitely, pending a new trial. Lucio's case was remanded back to Cameron County, in the same court system that convicted her of capital murder. Lucio's legal team is now working to get sitting judge Gabriela Garcia, of the 138th District Court, removed from the case. (Published Apr 26, 2022)

[@wolftitanreading5308]

And this the justice system fails and a murderer gets to live longer

[@peach_total]

11:44 hits different now 😤🤙🏼👩🏻‍⚖️

[@rgwak]

Me: "Man what a depressing week." 😢 John: "Our main story...." Me: 😭

[@acciousername6776]

Our weekly dose of a British talking parrot induced depression :')

[@SayAhh]

Someone always have it tougher than you. If they don't, then maybe you are John's next story.

[@XxThunderflamexX]

@@SayAhh And nonetheless, life is not a zero-sum game. We can make things better, for everyone.

[@dummytube1542]

A quote I heard not to long ago made a deep impact on me and to paraphrase; "There isn't a 'justice' system in America, there is a 'legal' system." That's an important distinction in my mind.

[@ferrobenjc8480]

11:50 she's dead now...

[@joachimschoder]

Another argument to be made here: If you convict the wrong person it means the right person is still walking around. And since they already convicted somebody else they know that nobody is even looking for them anymore. And that is a pretty good incentive to commit more crimes. So even the people who don't give a shit about the wrongfully convicted should have a personal interest to be sure that they got the right person.

[@CD-vb9fi]

Everyone is going to pay in ways they have no idea they are paying. We pay for the crime of convicting innocents which promotes corruption and tyranny in court. And then the Final Payment... the toll God exacts against all those that have wronged others, especially the innocent having been exacted a punishment for another... well... lets just say there is a reason Christ said most people will not be saved. And there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[@larsdewit6521]

@@CD-vb9fi It's nice to think God would care, on the other hand It turned women into (salt?) Pillars for the horrible crime of looking behind them so I doubt It cares much for harming innocent's as much as (According to that book) It cares for people doing what he says and seeing as most people haven't really been following mosaïc law about 99% of the people would be fucked.

[@Groffili]

I've come to the conclusion that, in many many many ways, the whole American culture cares about appearance more than about substance. It's the presentation, the showmanship that counts... not the truth, facts, policies or any other "real thing" behind it. That's true for every aspect of the American system: politics, business, justice, education, religion.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

it's 99% worse than you think. EX: when KKKops FRAME an innocent man......THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN CONVICT THE REAL CRIMINAL......bc the KKKops blew ALL CREDIBILITY, get it? ex: THE NYPD said "HOMELESS BLACK DUDE BENTLY GRANT THREW A BRICK IN MANHATTAN THAT BADLY INJURED A WHITE WOMAN....." and the MSM just REPEATED THE LIE, REPEATED THE LIE. UH OH: IT CAME OUT THAT BENTLY......WAS ON SURVEILLANCE CAMERA.......at the Virgin Megastore on 14th Street / Union Sq........at the EXACT SAME TIME KKKOPS said he threw a brick at a woman..... 25 blocks away!!!!! EVERYONE overlooked that.....even if they DID catch the REAL violent criminal....it would NOT HOLD UP IN COURT, cuz the Lying Liar KKKops ALREADY GOT CAUGHT LYING in the case, see? NEVER IN HISTORY DID A KKKOP TELL THE TRUTH.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

@@Groffili U ARE CORRECT: AMERIKKKA IS THE FAKEST NATION IN HISTORY.

[@pavoschutters6312]

I'm really in shock. Coming from an European country where 20-30 years in prison is already an extreme long penalty, where're no death penalty. To get innoncent in prison for whole your life or even getting killed, that thought totally stuns me, that's worse than horror. To not to be capable to get your sentence cancelled when there's such obivious prove of innoncence, that's madness!

[@syriouskash537]

WELCOME TO AMERICA! See what you Europeans dont know is America is a prostitute. You dont EVER make her your girl. She's pretty. She dresses nice. She talks to you real sweet. But ........ she's a prostitute. All she wants from you is one thing! And if she ever feels like doing so? She will call her pimp on you. IF you want to hop in the bed with her for a Night? Ok thats your business. BUT You dont EVER make her your girl. SO many flag waving patriotic Americans who loved her Beauty. Loved her nice dresses. Loved her sweet voice, never paid attention to how she treated people she didnt have to be nice to............. FOOLISHLY tried to date her.... thought they were special ....... ended up getting beat up and robbed by her PIMP! America is a prostitute. Dont EVER make America your girl. EVER!

[@thadwuj668]

Yep, America is a pretty bad country when considering all the obvious injustices.

[@froschi3242]

@@syriouskash537 calling the US a prostitute is already an insult to all prostitutes

[@syriouskash537]

@@froschi3242 I was trying to be nice

[@thundafundamentalist]

Convicted pedophiles and necrophiliac exist They and other criminals deserve the death penalty

[@voltjmgaming2119]

17:55 No, you're not! You're already convinced that she did it! You're not trying to find the murderer!

[@tairneanaich]

Thank you for showing my girl Marguiles the appreciation she deserves

[@tylerhackner9731]

My spring break is starting with John Oliver describing our horrible injustice system in a darkly comedic matter. Love it

[@avgeek707]

Enjoy your break!

[@captaincosmos3280]

If this is how it starts, I'd say you're going to be "head in a lamp shade" batty before it's over. 🤡

[@nadiashireensiddiqi]

This is why my anxiety since 21 _||_||_ 12 is still propounding esp since Bob died… even harder for non-Americans

[@P1nkR]

"Darkly comedic" yet all his jokes are about pop culture. The Rock is a bad actor and the judge has a funny gavel haha!

[@mydogsbestfren7490]

Christ its Spring already?

[@Hornswroggle]

"Scarier than any criminal is an innocent man in chains, for when he breaks free, his revenge will be justified." --- Oriathan Proverb

[@Kurgosh1]

"Oriathan Proverb" is a weird way of saying, "Stuff made up by game developers in New Zealand."

[@tanwencooper6928]

Oh I picked the wrong day to watch this video given the queen died less than an hour ago...

[@flolilan]

yeah same

[@chrisrichards5727]

Whoopsie.

[@rohankarkra7799]

The episode has been depressing from start to finish, heartbreaking to say the least. But knowing that some possibly innocent woman is going to be 'executed' 4 weeks from now is just a punch in the gut and that's an understatement. How this system is still a thing is something I can't wrap my head around

[@rhiannonbrown6390]

In 2005 a job I had pulled me out of work saying that my criminal record had a conviction for drug possession on it. The supervisor I spoke to tried for about 30 minutes to make me confess that I left a conviction that I never had out of my info when applying for the job. I was suspended until I could prove that I didn't do it. When I went home, the county clerk's office pulled my file out and records for someone who had the same first name, a different last name, different birthday and different social security number were brought out. If I had been taken to court over something, I would never have known that this person's information was in my file and it could have totally screwed me. Ultimately, I ended up having to go to a judge to prove who I was and have it removed. That person was convicted of possession when I was 8 years old.

[@shannonhensley2942]

My sister needed her birth certificate after she moved out. They pulled on with her name but no other information was correct. Took her months to get her certificate with the correct information.

[@Kurgosh1]

If your boss suspends you for a crime committed when you were 8 years old by a person with a different name that's a sure sign that you needed a new job anyway.

[@stevebonk8995]

@@Kurgosh1 totally not the point lol

[@am53n8]

sure it's not the point, but if they're able to spend all that time and effort without checking basic stuff like that...

[@jasonsilverman3125]

That is shocking negligence

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

If Lucio's case can serve as a cautionary tale, its moral should be: never talk to the cops.

[@thalegendarydruss]

Yup. It's the first thing they tell you. Just ask for a lawyer.

[@dragonmaster613]

Why do you think there are whole communities that have High Crime Rates? The ineptitude of the Law forcing people like her to tighten up their lips.

[@sonofJurell]

Ever!

[@EntropicalNature]

Yep, a vision this law prof and police officer tried to communicate a long time ago already: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml6aoGyujtVqm6c

[@Rob_Thorsman]

Say "Am I under arrest?" If they answer no, leave. If they answer yes, ask for a lawyer. Don't say anything else.

[@diablominero]

Our legal system should hold prosecutors personally responsible for everything the State does as punishment to someone the prosecutor knew or should have known was innocent at the time of the trial. If a prosecutor pushes for execution for someone they know is innocent, that's attempted murder and ought to be treated as such.

[@bettebette9881]

This is so heartbreaking and spirit crushing

[@nomore6167]

Any system that values and prioritizes technicalities over truth cannot in any way be called a "justice system".

[@superleipoman]

It has been said that the United States have an excellent legal system. Unfortunately, they do not have a system of justice. A quotation that ages like wine.

[@davidshillaker7578]

This just goes that much further to show how broken of a country the United States is. That country needs serious help

[@antonbrakhage490]

Let's be honest, its a system designed to incarcerate and kill as many people of colour as possible, because they can't officially call it slavery any more. No, this is not hyperbole- the 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited slavery, but specifically left an exemption for prison labour.

[@Boomflame82]

Truth, by definition, must be unequivocal. The problem is that we don't ACTUALLY have an all-knowing entity we can consult to determine absolute truth, so in the vast majority of cases it becomes relative. Without the technicalities, how often do you think the opposite from the intended effect would occur? That is to say, how often would we question whether a case was knowingly obfuscating the truth for a person's benefit? Technicalities should aim to keep the process standardized SO THAT truth and justice can prevail. The problem in the USA, of course, is that the entire process seems to have been manipulated over the years to disproportionately disenfranchise, oppress, and PUNISH certain segments of the population instead of providing the population with a system that aims to not only dole out equitable justice, but provide those who end up on the wrong side of the law with a chance at rehabilitation.

[@nomore6167]

@@Boomflame82 I agree that we don't have an all-knowing entity we can consult to determine absolute truth, but for the purposes of making a judgement call, we can assume that something is true when both sides -- prosecution and defense -- agree that it is the truth. Even in those cases, however, evidence is disallowed because of technicalities (a mistake in a court filing, a mistake obtaining or executing in a search warrant, etc). The explicit purpose of a trial is to determine the truth, so the prioritized goal of the trial should be to determine the truth, not to adhere to rules and standards so rigidly that it makes the truth impossible to determine.

[@yohei72]

Besides the old "you're screwed if you're poor/you're fine if you're rich" thing, the other problem is the USA's hysteria about crime. Most Americans are always convinced we're drowning in a bloody wave of violent crime, even while it's been dropping for decades, and that we have to punish people ruthlessly to stop it, and that if the cops picked you up, you're probably guilty. This leads to "soft on crime" being one of the worst accusations you can throw at a political candidate (including judges, who are elected in many places... that's another problem). I suspect there a lot of people who if they're honest, think it's fine to execute or imprison for life some innocent people, to be sure we don't let guilty ones go, and that's just the price we have to pay to protect ourselves. Hysteria from the media and politicians over violent crime bears a big part of the blame for this situation.

[@phoenix21studios]

Uhhh Violent crime is down like 70% form 30 years ago.........

[@abbigailcarr2725]

I agree thank you for putting such good points out there. I agree with anything. And that mindset that so many have has been shown to be false because innocent people get convicted all the time while guilty people walk free all the time so clearly the system doesn’t work

[@matthewwukitch3735]

I agree that's why i think people should stop watching local news it has degraded into reporting on drama (crime), sports, weather and a puff piece. If you watch local news for a month, how often do they cover local politics. In the end its Americans that deserve the blame for funding those news organizations.

[@nicklang7670]

The police state is violent.

[@kempolar9768]

@@phoenix21studios Yes. But if you only watch certain news and politicians without looking at actual data, it seems like violence and crime is up 3000%. That's what the OP's point was.

[@kaarin_4786]

This hits harder after the ruling on 5/23, stating that a Federal court hearing an ineffective counsel claim from state court cannot consider new evidence that was not presented in the state court.

[@MrAgorar]

Excuse me but what?! "Your counsel didn't bring forward this exhonorating evidence, that would have changed your case, and we are also not allowed to view and consider this evidence because it wasn't brought forward." What kind of messed up bullshit is that?

[@Unimaginative.Moniker]

Interrogations are so egregiously carried out and understandable ppl think "I don't need a lawyer bc I'm innocent", but those are exactly the ppl that need a lawyer most. Every level of the criminal justice system is designed to screw us no matter what and we're fucking sick of it! Reform, reform, REFORM!!!

[@JJRush_]

*PEOPLE PLEASE MAKE THIS THE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS VIDEO: NEVER, EVER TALK TO THE COPS!!! NEVER!!!!!! IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT!! YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT LEGAL COUNSEL!!! The Maria Lucio case is the perfect example of WHY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING TO THE POLICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

[@erebostd]

It gets difficult if parts of your family is in this business, and leads to awkward family reunions 😉 …joke aside: even cops that are worth their salt tell you to be nice, give the needed documents and answers and s the f up about everything else. Where are you going? I don’t want to discuss that with you, sorry.

[@FlanaFugue]

@@erebostd Google translate for this?

[@thecum6180]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGqvhZuPp6qaf68

[@michaelbailey1086]

Good advice except for the fact that in this case, her lawyer was either incompetent, lazy and/or corrupt (he now works for the DA and has for many years) so it's not clear that his presence prior to the interrogation would have been helpful or changed the outcome.

[@worshipcatalyst1]

If you sign up for any sort of legal protection in the States, this is the first thing they tell you. The cops are not your friends, they are not on your side.ever.

[@rgwak]

Maria Lucio had 14 children. None of them were allowed to testify or corroborate that she was abusive to the child who died. That maybe would have been something the jury would like to know.

[@chrismills7371]

I think the pictures of her hair pulled out, bite marks and bruises kinda influenced the jury!

[@christianschoff2490]

@@chrismills7371 God, you are such a klorbag.

[@soroh0062255]

@@chrismills7371 a sham trial that reaches the same verdict a real trial might have had... Is still a disgusting sham trial that should not have happened.

[@SailingSeignior]

@@chrismills7371 What evidence is there that she did those things?

[@edelsmurf]

@@chrismills7371 And I find those who are eager to convict a quite likely innocent person just to get "justice" for a regrettable event disgusting.

[@kathleenmoore2349]

I almost Never cry but the end of this episode had me in tears

[@kd1768]

That joke about the queen hit different now 😂

[@jemanarpiis]

You can just feel John Oliver's frustration on America's legal system when he has to discuss the broken judicial system US has.

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

It's not broken. It's working as intended. Orwell would be proud.

[@ednabeckwith8185]

Love John Oliver

[@dragonmaster613]

It always takes a pair of outside eyes for one to see their own flaws.

[@user-hz6cn9bh4g]

@@LisaBeergutHolst Kafka more so.

[@GTFODeathknight]

after all the episodes him and the writers had to do about it, i would expect them to be

[@hathorearthfyre]

It's heartbreaking. Every week we find out more about how the U.S.A. has failed its people. It's really piling up.

[@Moshington]

I get what you are saying but the mile high pile of issues has been there since day one.

[@CD-vb9fi]

USA is not failing its people. It's people are failing the USA. Everyone just sits around whining and begging the very scumbags, they know are corrupt, but still vote in to somehow fix the mess they enriched themselves in making. Hello back, meet dagger, you are soon to be stuck with each other.

[@senfdame528]

Do a purge already

[@geoffreytudor5674]

It's never failed the rich, powerful and connected.

[@vivianhi]

poor poc.....and letting whites free

[@bradsmithstudios8881]

John, please do a segment about the IMF and World Bank. The destructive power of nation debt is a story rarely told.

[@kimberlymccollum8284]

Thanks for this important and timely message!

[@qui_dit_ben4528]

I want to talk about that interrogation recording at the end: this is classic Minimisation/Maximisation, where you maximise the stress of denying ("are you a cold blooded murderer", "we know what happened") while minimise the stress associated with confessing ("are you a frustrated mother?", "I understand, I understand, I understand"). Here's the thing: this is a hugely psychologically manipulative method that drastically (and I mean statistically significantly) increases the risk of falsely confessing. Oh, and I'm 95% sure this method is illegal on most EU countries [though I cannot say that I am certain] Fuck you Reid

[@erebostd]

I have the text for you (translations aren’t my speciality, but i hope it’s understandable): „Unclear, ambiguous or suggestive questions that suggest a certain answer or reveal a certain expectation of the interrogator are inadmissible.“ - if you take a look into german interrogation handbooks the police uses, you get help how to prevent these questions, because they might fault your results, so you need to prevent them. It isn’t all fun and games here, we have enough problems with our police, but it seems it isn’t as bad as in the us. Another example? Guess how many bullets our police here shot in 2019. All of the police force - state police, special units, normal police, everybody all together. It was 67 bullets. Yes, they get counted individually. Does this mean we have no controversial police actions? Absolutely not. But we usually don’t get shot, even if we screw up. And if we get convicted and we think it’s unfair we can try again in a higher court. Relatively easy. Oh, and we as the people don’t kill prisoners. Even if some would have deserved it. We truly have enough problems here, i bet some you didn’t even ever hear anything about. But at least that part is mostly ok. 🙂

[@qui_dit_ben4528]

@@erebostd ohhh, that's interesting, thanks for this :D

[@hinatau2]

I agree reforms need to happen, but the officers- if they saw that poor child, likely had reason to be so fourthcoming. That child's body was "the worst case of abuse they'd seen in 30 years". That is coming from the Emergency Room Doctor who saw her. She had a broken arm that was weeks old that never got treated, bite marks on her back, missing patches of hair, head damage, and multiple bruised organs. If those officers saw that baby in the state she was in, or heard from the doctors who examined her, I understand why they acted they way they did. That doesn't make it right, but that woman tortured her child and deserves what's coming to her. I hate the fact that people keep pushing to make this racist or political when a poor baby who had been taken away from her abusive mother dies WITHIN 3 MONTHS of being returned to her care. John Oliver and Last week tonight shot their argument in the foot. They have a good argument and reforms need to happen, but the fact they are willing to defend and saintify a child abuser to get it across completely sours the entire thing for me. Shame on them.

[@annkartch3965]

@@hinatau2 Watch the documentary. One of Melissa's other children was the abuser...she admitted to pushing her sister down the stairs when she was interrogated at the time. She denies it now, but a couple of her siblings also told the investigators that she was abusive to the baby. None of this was admitted as evidence because Melissa's attorney did not include it. He felt it would ruin the teenager's life.

[@piedon1051]

@@hinatau2 You may want to do a bit more research on this matter. She wasn't the abuser.

[@infinitebombdog]

As a mother, its heartbreaking they interrogated her the NIGHT her daughter passed away. No time given for her to process or mourn. Where's the humanity?

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Particularly when a cop who shoots someone on the job, is seen shooting someone on the job, is RECORDED shooting someone on the job, gets a day or two before they have to with for an INTERVIEW, not an interrogation.

[@pnwbriar301]

Cops have no humanity, they are sociopaths which is why they became cops so they can hurt people legally. I held a Halloween party on our property during the Saturday of Halloween weekend and used it to raise money for an environmental charity. The neighbor (who we have had issues with in the past and has made antisemitic comments about my Jewish housemate) called a noise complaint at 10:15pm and the cop response was to threaten us with arrest for a year and taking all "noise affiliated objects" (fancy way to say they were going to steal music equipment/instruments from poor college students). The threat of violence and theft by the cop was literally just over a noise complaint, we had no fights or people in the street, in no way was it a fair response.

[@thecum6180]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGqvhZuPp6qaf68

[@goosejail]

ikr? There's no way they could've even had any evidence that her death was anything but an accident at that point.

[@14deadratsinatrenchcoat]

I would suggest the book “Just Mercy” for more about this

[@shaunaellis6619]

In Utah I was wrongly accused of domestic violence on my ex-husband. I went to jail which cost me 300.00 and had to take an anger management class twice a week costing me 100.00 a week for 6 weeks. The first appearance in court, my ex is a no show. Second and third the same. Fourth my attorney was a no show along with my ex. Fifth case charges were dismissed. All the court appearances cost me 12,000 and 600.00 for anger management class 300.00 to bail out with a grand total of =12,900 and I never got a dime back. After all this is was too scared to persuade child support or alimony. I lost everything due to this mason buddies and crooked justice system

[@wolftitanreading5308]

Honestly you got off very easy