Wrongful Conviction

May 15, 2018

Know Your Rights: You are Entitled to Damages Following a Conviction in Chicago

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

If you have been following the news in Chicago lately, then you know that too many citizens have been wrongly convicted over decades and are now just beginning to receive justice. Recently, the city vacated 15 convictions of innocent citizens that were framed by the Chicago Police Department.

In the event of a wrongful conviction, you and your family have likely lost precious time and financial resources for years and even decades. However, rest assured that you have rights and that you are entitled by law to claims for past and future financial compensation for the injustice you endured. Learn what you can do to file a claim and how a law firm can facilitate the process for you in receiving the financial compensation you deserve.

What is the Significance of a Wrongful Conviction?

June 21, 2017

The Stop and Search Law: Racial Disparities in Chicago

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Few laws have created the angst that is experienced in the stop-and-search era. The basic premise is that if you come from an ethnic minority, then the chances are that you will be more likely to be stripped and searched than a member of the mainstream community, which is primarily white Caucasian in this context. It is a violation of civil liberties. There are numerous reports of these powers being abused.

The law enforcement agencies may hide behind the notion that they are merely engaging in a consensual process, but consensus can never be achieved if one of the parties to the cause is so much more powerful and influential. The power of arrest and charge is particularly compelling to any would-be suspect when he or she is deciding whether or not to resist the arrest. The law enforcement agencies have attempted to report this as a practical matter of people from ethnic minorities committing more crimes more often than their mainstream white Caucasian counterparts. Other social researchers disagree with this premise because it does not account for the impact of the systemic deprivations with which these ethnic minorities have to contend.

Working Towards a Sustainable Model

April 13, 2016

What Happens to a Convicted Individual Who is Later Exonerated?

by Law Offices of David L. Freidberg, P.C.

Our system of law and order works pretty well, most of the time. After an arrest, it is up to the prosecutor to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the accused is the perpetrator of the crime. The defendant is entitled to be judged by his peers, and he is entitled to be represented by an attorney of his choosing during every aspect of the criminal proceedings up to and including trial of the matter; and to be able to present to the court any evidence of applicable defenses. However, sometimes there is a glitch in the system, a miscarriage of justice that results in the conviction and incarceration of an innocent person. Tragically, there are cases where a person convicted of a crime, has served years in prison for a crime he or she did not commit. The wrongfully accused can never get those years back, but may be entitled to compensation.

The State of Florida vs. Bain

In 1974, James Bain was convicted of breaking and entering, kidnapping, and rape, and was sentenced to life in prison. Bain maintained his innocence throughout, and after serving 35 years of the life sentence, his innocence was proven by DNA evidence.