Top Causes of Wrongful Convictions: How Innocent People End Up in Prison

How does the criminal justice system convict innocent people? In this video, Board-Certified Criminal Law and Criminal Appeals Attorney Jacob Blizzard explains the biggest factors contributing to wrongful convictions and actual innocence exonerations. Many people assume DNA evidence is the primary reason innocent individuals are exonerated. But national data shows that non-DNA factors are far more common in wrongful conviction cases. We discuss: Estimated percentages of innocent individuals in prison What “actual innocence” really means The most common causes of exonerations Why DNA is not the leading factor in most cases The five major contributing factors to wrongful convictions include: Mistaken witness identification Perjury or false testimony / false accusations False confessions due to coercion or police pressure False or misleading forensic evidence Official misconduct (withholding evidence, Brady violations, etc.) In fact, over half of exoneration cases involve perjury or false accusations, and over half also involve official misconduct as a contributing factor. If you or a loved one believes a conviction resulted from one of these issues, understanding these patterns is critical when building an actual innocence claim. Knowledge is power - especially when your freedom is on the line. We serve families across Texas with compassion, honesty, and determination. If someone you love is in prison and you’re looking for answers, we’re here to listen. There is no cost to speak with us, and no obligation. We’ll help you understand: Whether your claims are legally viable What options you may still have Whether professional assistance could make a difference 📞 Call us today to schedule a free case review (325) 246-3902. 📧 You may also email us anytime with questions: [email protected] You are not alone in this process. Subscribe to this YouTube Channel with more informational videos on the Texas post-conviction process. Download the free guide "Five Critical Things to Know To Overturn a Texas Conviction or Sentence" here: https://bzfreedomfromprison.com Our team includes: Sarah Durham, Board Certified in Criminal Appellate Law Jacob Blizzard, Dual Board Certified in Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law Morgan Walker, Senior Associate Attorney 📖 Keep learning more about Texas post-conviction relief and criminal appeals. There Is Always Hope. Blizzard and Zimmerman Attorneys 1174 North 3rd Street Abilene, TX 79601 (325) 246-3902 PostConvictionReliefLaw.com #prison #appeal #appeals #freedom #WrongfulConviction #ActualInnocence #Exoneration #CriminalAppeals #FalseConfession #OfficialMisconduct #InnocenceProject