The DNA evidence collected from the crime scene needs to still be in good condition, which is not always the case. In many instances, either the testing was requested by the convict or it was solicited by the state in conjunction with a broader program (Lithwick, 2012)
In Virginia, a program has been run for years, and while there are criticisms about the cost, it has led to exonerations, even during the phase of random testing. Today, there is a move to allow for DNA testing if not during the investigation then certainly at the point of conviction (Mears, 2013)
The ACLU (2011) has stated that 17 people on death row were exonerated as of September, 2011. A project in Virginia found 33 individuals convicted of sexual assaults who between 1973-1987 who were still incarcerated in 2012 and whose innocence was demonstrated by DNA testing (Michaels, 2012)
Alfred Blumstein, a sociologist at Carnegie Mellon University argues differently. He feels that the disproportionate amount of blacks in prison, and therefore the disproportionate amount of blacks that are exonerated by DNA evidence represent a larger societal problem, and are the symptom of a broken society and not a broken justice system (Blumstein, 2009)
DNA Exonerations: Some Racial Considerations From 1989 to 2003 there have been a total of 144 exonerations in the U.S. connected with DNA evidence (Gross, et al
It is necessary to examine why there are so many blacks in the prison system itself in order to accurately understand why there are a disproportionate amount of blacks being exonerated of violent crimes due to DNA. An estimated 12% of blacks under the age of 18 were in prison or jail last year, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report (Harrison and Beck, 2006)
It is necessary to examine why there are so many blacks in the prison system itself in order to accurately understand why there are a disproportionate amount of blacks being exonerated of violent crimes due to DNA. An estimated 12% of blacks under the age of 18 were in prison or jail last year, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report (Harrison and Beck, 2006)
The also feel that there is an assumption of guilt tied to black men in particular, which culturally and socially leads more people to point to the black population as automatically guilt, eliminating the possibility of a completely fair trial. The authors also argue that the lack of black political representations is not helping the cause and that the "three strikes you're out" rule is designed to punish repeat offenders and reward police officers and citizens who feel that blacks are inherently more criminal (Healey and O'Brien, 2007, pp