Too often, too many prosecutors conceal evidence that could be used to prove someone’s innocence. As a result, many people are wrongly convicted and spend years in jail for crimes they didn’t commit.
Conroe, TX (PRWEB) June 17, 2014
Texas recently approved a new state law requiring Texas prosecutors to share all “exculpatory” evidence — information that could prove a defendant’s innocence — with defense attorneys, a decision that will hopefully keep innocent people out of jail in Texas, according to Texas criminal defense lawyer Joseph LaBella of Joseph J. LaBella & Associates.
LaBella expressed his comments today in response to an article published May 29, 2014, by The Texas Tribune about the new Texas law.
“This is welcome news for anyone wrongly convicted of a crime in Texas,” LaBella said. “Too often, too many prosecutors conceal evidence that could be used to prove someone’s innocence. As a result, many people are wrongly convicted and spend years in jail for crimes they didn’t commit. I know because my office has helped far too many people fight fraudulent charges for crimes they didn’t commit.”
The new law is named the Michael Morton Act after an Austin, Texas man, who spent nearly 25 years in prison for his wife’s murder, a crime Morton did not commit, according to The Texas Tribune. Morton was released from prison in 2011 after Texas officials discovered former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson intentionally withheld information that could have prevented Morton’s wrongful conviction, according to The Texas Tribune.
Some administrators in various district attorney’s offices expressed concerns about the new law, claiming that the new law will result in “a lot of copying costs and document storage and delivery concerns for Texas prosecutors and the law enforcement agencies who investigate crimes,” according to Rob Kepple, executive director for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, as quoted by The Texas Tribune.
Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Administrative Chief Andrea Moseley agreed. “I think this could become financially burdensome on smaller agencies,” she said, according to The Texas Tribune. “I would hate to see anybody shortcut investigations to defray costs.”
Such concerns about the new law are misplaced, though, according to Texas criminal defense attorney Joseph LaBella of Joseph LaBella & Associates. “If this new law prevents one innocent person from being incarcerated for decades or even being wrongly executed, it’s absolutely worth it, no matter how much some government agency has to spend on making extra copies or storing documents,” LaBella said. “I’ve heard these excuses for years from prosecutors. ‘We don’t have that information’ or ‘We’re not supposed to share that evidence with you.’ People are tired of hearing excuses. People charged with a crime deserve to know the evidence being used against them. America was built on the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty. That’s why we work so hard on every case we handle. That’s why we promise we will do everything to defend people facing serious charges.”
For more information about Texas’ criminal defense laws and the options available to people charged with a crime in Texas, call (800) 395-5951 or go to: http://www.texas-dwi-lawyers.com/contact
The Texas Tribune article cited is “Costs and Questions as TX Implements New Discovery Law.”
About Joseph J. LaBella & Associates
Serving clients throughout Texas, DWI lawyer Joseph LaBella handles some of the most complicated criminal cases throughout the state. An experienced, knowledgeable Texas defense attorney, Joseph LaBella works with clients facing drunk driving-related charges and other serious charges. Attorney LaBella has tried over 100 cases and has a 90 percent success rate. Along with DWI cases, attorney LaBella also handles probation violations, case dismissals, murder charges, sex crimes, drug crimes and hit-and-run charges.
Joseph J. LaBella & Associates
220 W Davis St.
Conroe, TX 77301
(800) 395-5951
http://www.texas-dwi-lawyers.com/