ANSWERS: 2
  • In America, NONE. American courts do not determine innocence. This reason for this is simple; it is nearly impossible to prove a negative. Instead, the test is whether you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Let me explain with a hypo. Suppose you are convicted of rape primarily because semen was found that can be linked to your blood type (but before DNA testing was possible). Now suppose that years later the semen was DNA tested and found not to be a match to you. Does this prove you innocent? The answer is no. You make have raped the person, but the rape kit pulled semen that was from a different consensual encounter. Here is another example. Suppose you were convicted of murder largely based on hair found at the scene that was incorrectly identified as yours (and there is no reason why your hair should have been at the scene). Now suppose that it is later found that the hair did not belong to you. Does this prove you innocent? Again, no. It is certainly possible that you killed the person without leaving trace evidence. The point is this: Trace evidence can prove that you were at the scene, but the absent of trace evidence does not prove that you were not at the scene. However, the new evidence in both of these scenarios would likely be enough to create reasonable doubt.
  • Quite a few, but not as many that claim to be. I have never met a guilty person that had the courage to admit they did the crime and accept their punishment.

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