Introduction
Wrongful accusations and convictions in the US justice system have garnered attention over the past decades due to the unusually high number of unjustified incarcerations. However, a notable attribute of unfairly imprisoned individuals is racial disparity as a significant number of individuals held liable for crimes they did not perpetrate are Black Americans. Ricky Jackson is a well-known victim of a corrupt and inefficient justice system because he was exonerated after 40 years of serving time for a crime he did not commit. Like Ricky Jackson, many colored individuals from marginalized communities find themselves behind bars as a result of unverifiable witness testimonies and police misconduct. Similarly, Just Mercy, 2019, by Destin Daniel Cretton sheds light on the adversities black individuals experience in the criminal justice system regardless of their status due to racism. The case of Ricky Jackson and the concepts featured in Cretton’s film are similar because, in both instances, black men face losing their lives because of racism, injustice, inequality, and discrimination.
The Case of Ricky Jackson
Ricky Jackson is an individual whose rise to fame came years after he was innocently convicted of committing murder. The trial of Ricky Jackson garnered exceptional media attention in 1975 after he was sentenced to death after being falsely accused of robbing and murdering a money order sales agent known as Harold Franks. The only evidence against Ricky and two brothers, Ronnie and Wiley Bridgeman was the false and forced eyewitness account of a 13-year-old boy, Eddie Vernon (MacGillis, 2019). However, before their conviction, none of them had a criminal history and no forensic or physical evidence linked these men to the crime scene. In addition, witnesses defending Ricky and the two brothers provided reasonable alibies to prove that they were not involved in the murder (Hattery & Smith, 2022). Regardless, the jury decided to sentence all of them to death by electrocution a few months after they were declared guilty.
The case of Ricky Jackson and the two brothers is similar to several others whose reparations were unimaginable because the justice system did not heed their plight. Research by Zalman & Norris, (2021) suggests that African Americans face far worse atrocities than other marginalized races such as Latinos. By October 15th, 2016, the National Registry of Exonerations (NRE) had listed about 1900 defendants wrongfully convicted of crime and later released due to insufficient evidence (Cassell, 2018). Out of this number, 47% were African Americans with most of them being framed in fifteen large-scale law enforcement scandals that revealed gaps in their apprehension and sentencing. As a result, it is fair to conclude that the justice system is designed to work against black individuals because law enforcement officers find the simplest excuses to put them behind bars (Jordan, 2021). Ricky Jackson is one of the few lucky individuals who managed to go around the system and fight for his freedom. However, several others have spent their lives in prison while others were condemned to death row without any hopes of proving their innocence.
The high prevalence of unjust convictions in the US has revealed notable correlations between the techniques used to convict individuals and the people involved. On most occasions, crimes constitute sexual assault, murder, drug-related charges, and violent offenses such as robbery against White individuals in the community (Cassell, 2018). In addition, law enforcement officers play a major role in wrong convictions because they coerce witnesses into giving false accounts and torture accused individuals to obtain confessions. Moreover, courts and jury members also contribute to the unfair judgment and imprisonment of individuals because of their negligence and racist inclinations (Hattery & Smith, 2022). As a result, the whole system works together to facilitate severe atrocities against innocent individuals regardless of the implications of these sentences on their future. For example, after Ricky Jackson was exonerated, his mother, father, and several other relatives had passed away (Jackson et al., 2022). Moreover, the solitude, assault, and harassment he experienced over 39 years subjected him to pain and suffering. Hence, wrongful incarceration is a mishap that the system should strive to abolish due to its irreversible and serious repercussions on an individual’s life quality.
A Comparison of Ricky’s Case and the Film Just Mercy
Just Mercy is a movie that showcases events adopted from a real-life story of unfair convictions and the issues black individuals struggle with in the justice system. The film follows the story of a defense lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, with a special feature on Walter McMillian, an innocent Black American put on death row because of a murder he did not commit. The movie reveals sickening levels of social injustices in law enforcement and the criminal system as the lawyer is not spared from harassment and discrimination whenever he visits inmates in prison. However, the most striking aspect of the movie is its high resemblance with the case of Ricky Jackson as Walter, also known as Johnny D, faced similar issues under different circumstances. Walter was accused of robbing and murdering Ronda Morrison at her cleaners’ workplace. Nevertheless, like in Ricky’s case, the jury relied on the word of one witness who produced a false account and facilitated the unjust incarceration of an innocent man.
The cases of Ricky Jackson and Walter McMillian share striking similarities that reflect the immorality of the justice system. First, racism and discrimination are notable in both instances as the criminal court wrongfully subjected innocent individuals to execution without paying attention to the depth of evidence presented (Jordan, 2021). Ricky and Walter both had clear records and no history of criminal activity. In addition, there was no evidence tying them to the crime scene as no fingerprints or weapons were recovered from the crime scenes. Moreover, witnesses in both cases later admitted that they were forced into issuing false testimonies and threatened to do as they were told et al.. In Walters’s case, the witness, Ralph Myers, reported that law enforcement officers took advantage of his pending case and threatened him with execution if he did not testify. Similarly, court cases in both situations were hastily completed and individuals were sent to prison because they involved harm carried out against White people (MacGillis, 2019). Therefore, although the courts intended to send a message that justice was served, their decisions were clouded by racism and discrimination which was channeled toward black communities.
Wrongful incarceration has adverse implications on the lives of individuals because it exposes them to extremes that affect their well-being. Apart from the trauma that comes with being imprisoned and the feeling of hopelessness, prisoners are physically assaulted by wardens and other inmates (Jackson et al., 2022). In addition, they are exposed to mental and emotional suffering due to being separated from their loved ones, missing out on critical family developments, and living a life of solitude. Nevertheless, an unfair conviction does not only affect individuals but also interferes with individuals’ trust in the justice system. Ricky and Walter ad reliable alibi that the court and the jury failed to acknowledge (Zalman & Norris, 2021). In addition, the circumstances under which these individuals were convicted for the death penalty are associated with their race. Thus, this shows that the justice system and law enforcement are failing the individuals they vowed to protect by going against their values and allowing race and discrimination to cloud their judgment.
Conclusion
Police officers and the justice system often encounter several challenges and influences that can lead to mistakes and wrong judgment. However, the patterns of wrongful convictions in the US reveal a disturbing trend because about half of individuals wrongfully convicted and exonerated are Black Americans from marginalized communities. Ricky Jackson and Walter McMillian are a few of the individuals whose stories drew attention and helped champion change. However, many other Black individuals are imprisoned during their youth and prevented from enjoying their rights and living a productive life. A majority of Black individuals are incarcerated for drug-related cases, sexual assault, robbery, and murder. However, given the high levels of injustice observed in the system, many of these individuals are wrongfully identified and sometimes forced into accepting other people’s mistakes for a reduced sentence. Therefore, dealing with the issue from its roots by uprooting racism and discrimination can help individuals advance and respect others’ rights.
References
Cassell, P. G. (2018). Overstating America’s Wrongful Conviction Rate: Reassessing the Conventional Wisdom about the Prevalence of Wrongful Convictions. Ariz. L. Rev., 60, 815. Web.
Hattery, A., & Smith, E. (2022). Victimizing the innocent: Racism, wrongful convictions, and exonerations of black men in the criminal legal system. In The Victimology of a Wrongful Conviction (pp. 35-54). Routledge.
Jackson, N. A., Campbell, K. M., & Pate, M. (2022). The victimology of a wrongful conviction: Innocent inmates and indirect victims. Taylor & Francis.
Jordan, K. A. (2021). Critical Race Theory, Wrongful Convictions and Disparate Exonerations of Minority and White Youths in the United States. J Ment Health Soc Behav, 3(2), 148. Web.
MacGillis, A. (2019). Exonerated for a Murder They Didn’t Commit. The New York Times. Web.
Zalman, M., & Norris, R. J. (2021). Measuring Innocence: How to Think About the Rate of Wrongful Conviction. New Criminal Law Review, 24(4), 601-654. Web.