Jeffrey Deskovic spent 16 years in prison for rape and murder, despite a pre-trial Negative DNA Test, based upon a coerced, false confession, prosecutorial misconduct, fraud by the medical examiner, and an inept public defender. He was exonerated in Sept. 2006 through further DNA testing, which not only affirmed his innocence but identified the actual perpetrator. Since his release, he has become a nationally recognized advocate, giving over 80 presentations across the country, authored more than 200 articles about wrongful convictions, lobbied elected officials, testified at several legislative hearings in NY and CT where wrongful conviction prevention reforms were considered, participated in many television, radio, and print media interviews, and endorsing in several political races on behalf of candidates who were running in part on wrongful conviction prevention planks. He has completed a B.A. in Behavioral Science from Mercy College, and is on the verge of completing a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In 2011, using $1.5 million dollars he received out of compensation for his ordeal, Jeffrey started The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation For Justice, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to battling wrongful convictions. The organization raises awareness, seeks legislative reforms, works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted-both in DNA and Non-DNA cases, and helping exonerees and parolees reintegrate back into society.
Presentation Abstract:
Mr. Deskovic will discuss his trial and wrongful conviction, time in prison, unsuccessful appeals and eventual exoneration, life after exoneration, general systemic deficiencies that lead to wrongful convictions and the reforms needed to address them, and his Foundation. Following this, there will be a question and answer session.
