Just over a year ago, Governer Brown took a revolutionary and much needed step by signing into law California Assembly Bill 1909, which holds law enforcement criminally liable with felony charges and up to three years prison time for falsifying or withholding favorable evidence.
I hear so many stories about innocent people across California and across the nation, who have been wrongfully convicted. I just hope that when people think the rules don't apply to them, they will think twice before they abuse their power.
Stated newcomer yet visionary Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, who authored 1909 which was designed to prevent (or at least curb) wrongful convictions caused by police and prosecutor's misconduct, a move was unanimously passed by legislature, applauded by the voting public as well as the media as a game changer in the right direction.
But those falsely accused and wrongfully convicted from over a decade, like Anand Jon Alexander, who has not just uncovered newly discovered evidence and or previously withheld ( by police and prosecutors) exculpatory evidence that would exonerate him, but is a poster-boy victim of exactly what 1909 was passed to cure, are still fighting to get relief .
Despite the tremendous challenges, many who are falsely accused are fighting back and winning. Brian Banks who was recently exonerated of similar false allegations of rape with the assistance of Justin Brooks of The Inocence Project, as well as Ryan Ferguson have launched films and TV shows . Jeffrey Deskovic, Kian Khatibi and Jarrett Adams have gone to become lawyers all having won their freedom, have since gone on to become champions of justice, vocal spokespersons, launched campaigns and organizations which bolster Governer Jerry Brown and Patty Lopez breakthrough law.
How would you feel if you lost 17 years of your life in prison for a crime you did not commit? What would you do about it?
AmericanJusticeAlliance is also co-producing a documentary on the above which has extraordinary implications in the age of #metoo, to ensure Justice for all.
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