I am posting a comment about the 60 minutes interview. This video was shocking. This woman put an innocent man in jail after she said that she studied him while he raped her. It lets me know that your mind can play tricks on you. She was very confident after she was reinforced that she picked the same man twice. I always thought that eyewitness testimony was crucial to a trial, but after looking at this video I really don't know. Your first thought is that when a person has been victimized that they know who the criminal is without a doubt because they were there. I think that it is hard to question a victim after a crime has taken place. You want to be sensitive to that person because of what they had to face.
Also it was amazing that when the real criminal was in the court room she still thought that the rapist was cotton and not poole. I think that when you feel that you are right the first time you won't change your answer becaucse your mind is telling you that you are right. THANK GOD for DNA because it has set a whole lot of innocent people free. If it wasn't for DNA Mr. Cotton wouls still be in jail. I don't think that the justice system puts innocent people in jail on purpose but they put thme in their based on the evidence that they have at that time. Although, I still believe in the justice system but eyewitness testimony has to be worked on because it couls change a persons life forever.
I was most interested in the 60 minutes videos. Its amazing how during that time that police and law enforcer depended so much on eyewitness alone and nothing else. I felt sorry for Ron Cotton because he look so similar to the real rapist and the woman Jennifer wasn't able to tell the difference. I found it amazing that after everything that has happen to the both of them they are friends with one another. This video has shown me that no matter how much you think you remember when an crime occurs that memory is not the best thing to rely on all the time. No matter how you think you know you can end up like Jennifer and wrongly accuse someone. I agree with Jeremy Best Thank God for DNA testing.
I felt the video that Majara Carter did was very interesting. A lot of stereotypes that people have about living in the ghetto are wiped away once you see this video. I personally have never lived in a bad neighborhood so I had no idea that people actually choose to dump waste and chemicals in areas that were considered poor or low income. The sad part is when the people dump these chemical waste they have no idea how many problems they are causing. The reason why obesity is so high in the South Bronx is because they the neighborhoods look so bad they people do not want to get up and walk around. Plus they have a high rate of asthma because of the chemicals and unempolyment rates are really high also. This is because their neighborhoods are dirty and not presentable to someone who has a company. Majara made a good point when she talked about the mayor in Botoga Colombia and how he took a third world budget and turned the city around. Once he brought life back to his city everything started to change, people started to come out of their homes, crime rates went down, and people appreciated where they lived by not litering. She mentioned that the United States does not have an excuse at to why they cant help make the South Bronx a beautiful place, and I agree with her.
I was also most interested in the 60 minute videos. It’s amazing how things work out in life and I think that it is good that Ron Cotton forgave Jennifer. This makes me think and wonder about how many innocent people have spent their lives in jail because incorrect eyewitness testimonies. I am also very happy as well that we have DNA testing during this day in time.
Rachel Weathers said...... I watched the 60 minutes video and I was shocked to see how easy to mix people up in such a serious case. Back in the day when most cases depended on eyewitnesses, I npw see how important it was for a victim to tell the truth and to make sure they identify the right person. It was interesting to see in the 2nd video how your perception can get altered although a person was 100% sure of what they saw. Good thing we have advanced technology to prove the wrongly convicted people to be innocent.
The 60 minutes video was really disturbing to me. I became really upset watching the video because Jennifer did not know what she was talking about. How are you going to study a face in the dark? Hello Jennifer, he is a black man and you are trying to study his face in the dark. That makes no sense to me at all. If the someone put me in jail for something I did not do; I would not be their friend. If anything I would put her in jail for doing that to me. Anyway, I am proud of Ronald for not giving up on his future.
Eyewitness is more likely to convict the wrong person rather than the right person. The line up of pictures makes no sense to me, by doing so makes it look like they are sterotyping people. First of all, they do not know who did it; so how are you going to make a lineup? Anyway, technology is amazing to me. It amazing that people study crime or a specific aspect of crime for so long and create something that can be used for years and years to come.
I, too, watched all three videos and found that the 60 segment was very interesting. I feel that it would deplorable to have had years of your life taken away due to a mistake. But, I can also see it from Jennifer's standpoint. She was traumatized by an event and from that trauma, her senses were affected. Therefor, the positive identification was not so positive after all. By the police reinforcing what she thought, she became even more sure she had identified the right person.
I was viewing the 60 minutes video and it was very interesting. Its sad that many people have to live there life in jail due to inaccurate eyewitnesses. I feel for Ron Cotton! He was punished for something he didnt do. Thanks to another type of testing (DNA), he is free today.
I also watched the 60min video and not only was i surprised but i was also kind of confused on how we mess up on determining someones life. In watching this video it amazes me how our eyewitnesses can be so unreliable. It was neat to find out how our minds can be changed so easy. At one time you think you doing right but have to wonder am i right or wrong and want will my answer do to this persons life.
The 60 minutes piece on Ronald Cotton was very interesting. I think that the most impactful information for me was the dramatic increase in the percentage of people in one of the studies they mentioned who reported having a great view when in fact the view was a poor one. One group of participant were not told anything about the veracity of their identification of the perpetrator and of that group only 4% of the study participants (witnesses) reported that they had a great view of the perpetrator. Another group was told something like great you picked a suspect and of that group 25% reported that they had a great view. Neither group had a great view, but because one groups choice of suspect was reinforced their confidence about what they saw was increased. Unfortunately for the many innocent people who may have been convicted based on erroneous eye witness identification, there is not always DNA evidence available to prove their innocence. This was a rape case and DNA evidence was available but in a robbery or murder the availability of DNA might not be as likely. The fact that these two people have joined forces to let others know about the frailty of memory is an amazing thing. Most people will believe that the eye witness made a mistake if they willing to admit that. I do wonder if the victim did not have the DNA proof would she have questioned her pick of Cotton as the rapist? There is a case out of Johnston County – Terrence Garner (Frontline : An Ordinary Crime) where Terrence garner was convicted of attempted 2nd degree murder and even after the actual perpetrator of the crime confessed the judge, the DA, and the victim, continue to believe that Terrence garner committed the crime. Terrence was released only after serving 5 yrs in prison and after extensive legal maneuvers resulted in his release.
I watched the three videos and was most interested in the 60 segment video. I think that no victim that was just in a bad situation can identify the person that committed the crime. I say that based on the fact that the victim is afraid and is unable to focus on the offender that is victimizing them at that moment. In this situation i think that Jennifer eyes were plsying tricks on her because for one he was a black man and fro two it was dark in the room, i think that she just want to blame someone for the expereince that she had to go through. i give Ron Cotton the up most respect because he was accused of that crime when the whole time he was innocent. It take alot of courage for him to be able to forgive Jennifer for falsely accussing him and to be able to be her friend.
While watching the 60 minute video, all I have to say is Thank you to Fredrick Mescher for identifing DNA. Also Thank you to the criminologist for finding the mistakes. Whatever research Jennifer did, she needs to go back and do more research and find the right answers. People were accused for things they didnt do, and the criminals were probably running around freely committng more crime. But that God for the Criminologist who found the answers.
Out of all three videos the 60 min ones where the best. Green in the ghetto wasw crazy because I can really relate to the things Majora Carter was talking about but. The 60 min story was crazy. I have seen so many court cases and events go this way off a eyewitness account. This video woke me up because you never know if things like that could happen to u. For a person to sit in jail for 11 years and DNA was not around back then makes you think how many black men are in jail from a case back in the day where DNA was not around. With new techonigly being created each year their is no telling how many men died in jail or are still doing time because of these new ways to research evidence where not around when their case was over looked. This reminds me of my brothers court case which landed him 12years off a first offense
First i hate shaw's computers i tried to get in three times last night, and it wiped out my comments. I viewd both clips, and living and visiting NYC, i use to think the people were the problem, but they are hostages of their environment. 1/4 of the children in the Bronx has asthma if we counted all the children in the tenaments 25 of all the children in each building has a breathing problem, and there are alot of buildings in the Bronx,as well as in NYC, that is a problem. How did NYC become such a waste land? Has economic power become more important than human extinction? Or are some human lives expendable? I think i just had a sociological moment.
The 60 miniute video, shows that at a time of stress,and a traumatic moment the mind isn't truly focusing on detail. She was so adament about looking at features, she missed the mark. the most trained eye makes mistakes.
Statistically had Majora Carter not done research on the topic that interested her and affected herself as well as others in her community, she would not have been able to convince contributers to provide the funds needed to clean up the area. She had to provide data to support the need for funding. She also had to read information, graphs, and reports to get the percentage of children having asthma, and other health issues.
The video I enjoyed was the Majara Carter. The topic that was interesting to me was when she talked about how no community should have to suffer more environmental burden more then any another. It is sad that this is true that black are more likely to live by waste dumps, live in deadly air pollution, and live by chemical facility and all these things cause obesity, asthma, and diabetes. As black poor children visit hospitals, taxs are still rising and poor people are still poor. After looking at this video, I look at "Green Collard" workers in a much more respect. It takes alot to develope communities that are not developed. But people like the speaker on the video puts all of her effort in what she does, and she does it because she can relate to lower environments from her childhood experience.
I watched all three videos and was intrigued by them all. Its kind of hard not commenting on both subjects because they both are great topics. Majora Carter did an excellent job of describing what the living conditions were in the Bronx. I was oblivious to the matter because I don't live there, nor have I have ever planned to live there, so it was of no concern to me. But the more I listened the more I started to feel bad for those who lived there. Not realizing why they have so many health conditions and why it is so difficult to find work. Its Really unfortunate.
The 60 min segments I found interesting as well being that situations like this always seem to happen and unfortunately, always will. Its only because in my opinion, some people want "justice" so bad to the point that they allow themselves to be controlled by their rage. Jennifer honestly upset me simply because she didn't think that she could've been wrong and her mind was clouded with the thought of putting the man that was close to the image she had in her head, away for life. Thank God for DNA! However, the legal system seems to be in question too. They only gave Jennifer one set of pictures to find the suspect, which made her think that the guilty man HAD to be one them. When in fact it wasn't. I guess thats just the way the legal system weeds out the liars.
Someone mentioned bad neighborhoods, just wondering what constitues a "bad" neighborhood. The people that live there are there by circumstance,granted there are some "bad" people and some "bad" things that happen, but that is all over the world,in many neighborhoods, its just some bad news travels faster,and someone has to take the rap for "bad". Practicing Sociological thoughts (lol)
I watch Majora Carter and I have to mention she is one of the best speakers that I've heard. I didn't even think that any waste managements would even think about dumping into any neighborhood. Any type of waste is harmful and why would anyone would authorize waste dumping into a neighborhood. Regardless of the housing value of the neighborhood does not give them the right to do such a thing
I am posting a comment about the 60 minutes interview. This video was shocking. This woman put an innocent man in jail after she said that she studied him while he raped her. It lets me know that your mind can play tricks on you. She was very confident after she was reinforced that she picked the same man twice. I always thought that eyewitness testimony was crucial to a trial, but after looking at this video I really don't know. Your first thought is that when a person has been victimized that they know who the criminal is without a doubt because they were there. I think that it is hard to question a victim after a crime has taken place. You want to be sensitive to that person because of what they had to face.
ReplyDeleteAlso it was amazing that when the real criminal was in the court room she still thought that the rapist was cotton and not poole. I think that when you feel that you are right the first time you won't change your answer becaucse your mind is telling you that you are right. THANK GOD for DNA because it has set a whole lot of innocent people free. If it wasn't for DNA Mr. Cotton wouls still be in jail. I don't think that the justice system puts innocent people in jail on purpose but they put thme in their based on the evidence that they have at that time. Although, I still believe in the justice system but eyewitness testimony has to be worked on because it couls change a persons life forever.
I was most interested in the 60 minutes videos. Its amazing how during that time that police and law enforcer depended so much on eyewitness alone and nothing else. I felt sorry for Ron Cotton because he look so similar to the real rapist and the woman Jennifer wasn't able to tell the difference. I found it amazing that after everything that has happen to the both of them they are friends with one another.
ReplyDeleteThis video has shown me that no matter how much you think you remember when an crime occurs that memory is not the best thing to rely on all the time. No matter how you think you know you can end up like Jennifer and wrongly accuse someone. I agree with Jeremy Best Thank God for DNA testing.
I felt the video that Majara Carter did was very interesting. A lot of stereotypes that people have about living in the ghetto are wiped away once you see this video. I personally have never lived in a bad neighborhood so I had no idea that people actually choose to dump waste and chemicals in areas that were considered poor or low income. The sad part is when the people dump these chemical waste they have no idea how many problems they are causing. The reason why obesity is so high in the South Bronx is because they the neighborhoods look so bad they people do not want to get up and walk around. Plus they have a high rate of asthma because of the chemicals and unempolyment rates are really high also. This is because their neighborhoods are dirty and not presentable to someone who has a company. Majara made a good point when she talked about the mayor in Botoga Colombia and how he took a third world budget and turned the city around. Once he brought life back to his city everything started to change, people started to come out of their homes, crime rates went down, and people appreciated where they lived by not litering. She mentioned that the United States does not have an excuse at to why they cant help make the South Bronx a beautiful place, and I agree with her.
ReplyDeleteI was also most interested in the 60 minute videos. It’s amazing how things work out in life and I think that it is good that Ron Cotton forgave Jennifer. This makes me think and wonder about how many innocent people have spent their lives in jail because incorrect eyewitness testimonies. I am also very happy as well that we have DNA testing during this day in time.
ReplyDeleteRachel Weathers said......
ReplyDeleteI watched the 60 minutes video and I was shocked to see how easy to mix people up in such a serious case. Back in the day when most cases depended on eyewitnesses, I npw see how important it was for a victim to tell the truth and to make sure they identify the right person. It was interesting to see in the 2nd video how your perception can get altered although a person was 100% sure of what they saw. Good thing we have advanced technology to prove the wrongly convicted people to be innocent.
The 60 minutes video was really disturbing to me. I became really upset watching the video because Jennifer did not know what she was talking about. How are you going to study a face in the dark? Hello Jennifer, he is a black man and you are trying to study his face in the dark. That makes no sense to me at all. If the someone put me in jail for something I did not do; I would not be their friend. If anything I would put her in jail for doing that to me. Anyway, I am proud of Ronald for not giving up on his future.
ReplyDeleteEyewitness is more likely to convict the wrong person rather than the right person. The line up of pictures makes no sense to me, by doing so makes it look like they are sterotyping people. First of all, they do not know who did it; so how are you going to make a lineup? Anyway, technology is amazing to me. It amazing that people study crime or a specific aspect of crime for so long and create something that can be used for years and years to come.
I, too, watched all three videos and found that the 60 segment was very interesting. I feel that it would deplorable to have had years of your life taken away due to a mistake. But, I can also see it from Jennifer's standpoint. She was traumatized by an event and from that trauma, her senses were affected. Therefor, the positive identification was not so positive after all. By the police reinforcing what she thought, she became even more sure she had identified the right person.
ReplyDeleteI was viewing the 60 minutes video and it was very interesting. Its sad that many people have to live there life in jail due to inaccurate eyewitnesses. I feel for Ron Cotton! He was punished for something he didnt do. Thanks to another type of testing (DNA), he is free today.
ReplyDeleteI also watched the 60min video and not only was i surprised but i was also kind of confused on how we mess up on determining someones life. In watching this video it amazes me how our eyewitnesses can be so unreliable. It was neat to find out how our minds can be changed so easy. At one time you think you doing right but have to wonder am i right or wrong and want will my answer do to this persons life.
ReplyDelete-Alicia Hill
Rosa Saavedra
ReplyDeleteThe 60 minutes piece on Ronald Cotton was very interesting. I think that the most impactful information for me was the dramatic increase in the percentage of people in one of the studies they mentioned who reported having a great view when in fact the view was a poor one. One group of participant were not told anything about the veracity of their identification of the perpetrator and of that group only 4% of the study participants (witnesses) reported that they had a great view of the perpetrator. Another group was told something like great you picked a suspect and of that group 25% reported that they had a great view. Neither group had a great view, but because one groups choice of suspect was reinforced their confidence about what they saw was increased. Unfortunately for the many innocent people who may have been convicted based on erroneous eye witness identification, there is not always DNA evidence available to prove their innocence. This was a rape case and DNA evidence was available but in a robbery or murder the availability of DNA might not be as likely. The fact that these two people have joined forces to let others know about the frailty of memory is an amazing thing. Most people will believe that the eye witness made a mistake if they willing to admit that. I do wonder if the victim did not have the DNA proof would she have questioned her pick of Cotton as the rapist? There is a case out of Johnston County – Terrence Garner (Frontline : An Ordinary Crime) where Terrence garner was convicted of attempted 2nd degree murder and even after the actual perpetrator of the crime confessed the judge, the DA, and the victim, continue to believe that Terrence garner committed the crime. Terrence was released only after serving 5 yrs in prison and after extensive legal maneuvers resulted in his release.
I watched the three videos and was most interested in the 60 segment video. I think that no victim that was just in a bad situation can identify the person that committed the crime. I say that based on the fact that the victim is afraid and is unable to focus on the offender that is victimizing them at that moment. In this situation i think that Jennifer eyes were plsying tricks on her because for one he was a black man and fro two it was dark in the room, i think that she just want to blame someone for the expereince that she had to go through. i give Ron Cotton the up most respect because he was accused of that crime when the whole time he was innocent. It take alot of courage for him to be able to forgive Jennifer for falsely accussing him and to be able to be her friend.
ReplyDeleteCachet Hobson
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the 60 minute video, all I have to say is Thank you to Fredrick Mescher for identifing DNA. Also Thank you to the criminologist for finding the mistakes. Whatever research Jennifer did, she needs to go back and do more research and find the right answers. People were accused for things they didnt do, and the criminals were probably running around freely committng more crime. But that God for the Criminologist who found the answers.
Out of all three videos the 60 min ones where the best. Green in the ghetto wasw crazy because I can really relate to the things Majora Carter was talking about but. The 60 min story was crazy. I have seen so many court cases and events go this way off a eyewitness account. This video woke me up because you never know if things like that could happen to u. For a person to sit in jail for 11 years and DNA was not around back then makes you think how many black men are in jail from a case back in the day where DNA was not around. With new techonigly being created each year their is no telling how many men died in jail or are still doing time because of these new ways to research evidence where not around when their case was over looked. This reminds me of my brothers court case which landed him 12years off a first offense
ReplyDeleteFirst i hate shaw's computers i tried to get in three times last night, and it wiped out my comments.
ReplyDeleteI viewd both clips, and living and visiting NYC, i use to think the people were the problem, but they are hostages of their environment. 1/4 of the children in the Bronx has asthma if we counted all the children in the tenaments 25 of all the children in each building has a breathing problem, and there are alot of buildings in the Bronx,as well as in NYC, that is a problem. How did NYC become such a waste land? Has economic power become more important than human extinction? Or are some human lives expendable? I think i just had a sociological moment.
The 60 miniute video, shows that at a time of stress,and a traumatic moment the mind isn't truly focusing on detail. She was so adament about looking at features, she missed the mark. the most trained eye makes mistakes.
ReplyDeleteStatistically had Majora Carter not done research on the topic that interested her and affected herself as well as others in her community, she would not have been able to convince contributers to provide the funds needed to clean up the area. She had to provide data to support the need for funding. She also had to read information, graphs, and reports to get the percentage of children having asthma, and other health issues.
ReplyDeleteThe video I enjoyed was the Majara Carter. The topic that was interesting to me was when she talked about how no community should have to suffer more environmental burden more then any another. It is sad that this is true that black are more likely to live by waste dumps, live in deadly air pollution, and live by chemical facility and all these things cause obesity, asthma, and diabetes. As black poor children visit hospitals, taxs are still rising and poor people are still poor. After looking at this video, I look at "Green Collard" workers in a much more respect. It takes alot to develope communities that are not developed. But people like the speaker on the video puts all of her effort in what she does, and she does it because she can relate to lower environments from her childhood experience.
ReplyDeleteMDM
I watched all three videos and was intrigued by them all. Its kind of hard not commenting on both subjects because they both are great topics. Majora Carter did an excellent job of describing what the living conditions were in the Bronx. I was oblivious to the matter because I don't live there, nor have I have ever planned to live there, so it was of no concern to me. But the more I listened the more I started to feel bad for those who lived there. Not realizing why they have so many health conditions and why it is so difficult to find work. Its Really unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteThe 60 min segments I found interesting as well being that situations like this always seem to happen and unfortunately, always will. Its only because in my opinion, some people want "justice" so bad to the point that they allow themselves to be controlled by their rage. Jennifer honestly upset me simply because she didn't think that she could've been wrong and her mind was clouded with the thought of putting the man that was close to the image she had in her head, away for life. Thank God for DNA! However, the legal system seems to be in question too. They only gave Jennifer one set of pictures to find the suspect, which made her think that the guilty man HAD to be one them. When in fact it wasn't. I guess thats just the way the legal system weeds out the liars.
Someone mentioned bad neighborhoods, just wondering what constitues a "bad" neighborhood. The people that live there are there by circumstance,granted there are some "bad" people and some "bad" things that happen, but that is all over the world,in many neighborhoods, its just some bad news travels faster,and someone has to take the rap for "bad". Practicing Sociological thoughts (lol)
ReplyDeleteI watch Majora Carter and I have to mention she is one of the best speakers that I've heard. I didn't even think that any waste managements would even think about dumping into any neighborhood. Any type of waste is harmful and why would anyone would authorize waste dumping into a neighborhood. Regardless of the housing value of the neighborhood does not give them the right to do such a thing
ReplyDelete