Manufacturing Guilt: Wrongful Convictions in Canada

While acknowledging that innocent mistakes in identification are sometimes responsible for wrongful convictions, the authors of this study argue that the fundamental cause of wrongful conviction can be found in the racial and class inequalities that characterize much of Canadian society. Beginning with theoretical explanations of why some people and not others become wrongfully convicted, the authors analyze six well-known cases of wrongful conviction in Canada, illustrate how the powerlessness of a marginalized person was a major factor leading to their conviction, and suggest ways to prevent wrongful convictions in the future.