Tag: Newsroom

State-Sanctioned Murder

From the President: Governor Rick Perry’s abrupt dissolution of the Texas Forensic Science Commission on the eve of its decision in the Cameron Todd Willingham case was an effort to cover up a state-sanctioned murder. (see, Trial by Fire, by David Grann: New Yorker, September 7, 2009)  The botched investigation of Willingham’s suspected arson recalls… Continue reading State-Sanctioned Murder

The Smith-Allen Case is Over!

From the Executive Director: This morning I received the wonderful news that the acquittals in the Smith/Allen case will stand. The case is over! http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/10/07/acquittals-in-head-start-case-to-stand/ I called Joseph to congratulate him right after I heard the news, and discovered that he didn’t know about it yet. (Joseph is in Boston visiting his brother.) When I… Continue reading The Smith-Allen Case is Over!

John Stoll Awarded 5.5 Million Dollars

In Bakersfield, California, Kern County’s Board of Supervisors has agreed to settle for $5.5 million a federal lawsuit filed by John Stoll, now 66, whose molestation conviction was overturned in 2004 after he spent 20 years in prison. Michael Snedeker, President of NCRJ, together with attorneys for two California Innocence Projects, filed the case for… Continue reading John Stoll Awarded 5.5 Million Dollars

Unjust and Ineffective

An article in The Economist about American sex-offender laws. http://www.economist.com/printedition/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14164614

After 16 years, a courageous judge voids the wrongful convictions of Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen.

Roxbury, Massachusetts June 24, 2009 The NCRJ congratulates Lorain (OH) Common Pleas Judge James Burge for his courage in ordering the acquittals of Joseph Allen and Nancy Smith. Only 15 days ago, another of the NCRJ’s many cases came to a successful conclusion when Berkshire (MA) County District Attorney David Capeless decided to no longer… Continue reading After 16 years, a courageous judge voids the wrongful convictions of Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen.

After 25 years, All Charges Finally Thrown Out for Bernard Baran, the First Childcare Worker in America Convicted in a Daycare “Ritual Sex Abuse” Case

Roxbury, Massachusetts —June 15, 2009—The NCRJ applauds a district attorney’s decisionon June 9th to cease further appeals and drop all charges against Bernard F. Baran, Jr. During the national hysteria over ritual sex abuse  in daycare centers in America in the 1980s, Baran was the first childcare worker ever to be convicted in one of… Continue reading After 25 years, All Charges Finally Thrown Out for Bernard Baran, the First Childcare Worker in America Convicted in a Daycare “Ritual Sex Abuse” Case