A special committee of state lawmakers is studying eyewitness identification in crimes, and learning that people often make mistakes.
Six Georgia men have been exonerated through DNA evidence, but only after spending years in prison for crimes they did not commit.
Calvin Johnson is one of them. He was arrested in 1983 for rape and burglary. He had an alibi and forensic evidence on his side, but in court, the victim identified him as her attacker.
"She turned around. She looked at me," he told the committee. "She had a little tear on her cheek. She said 'What's the man that raped me.' At that time, my life changed. At that time, I became the victim."
Johnson spent 17 years behind bars before he was exonerated.
Over the next few months, the legislative committee will consider ways to insure that police follow the best practices when asking witnesses to identify perpetrators. They may propose a new law, new regulations, or simply better training for officers.
Six Georgia men have been exonerated through DNA evidence, but only after spending years in prison for crimes they did not commit.
Calvin Johnson is one of them. He was arrested in 1983 for rape and burglary. He had an alibi and forensic evidence on his side, but in court, the victim identified him as her attacker.
"She turned around. She looked at me," he told the committee. "She had a little tear on her cheek. She said 'What's the man that raped me.' At that time, my life changed. At that time, I became the victim."
Johnson spent 17 years behind bars before he was exonerated.
Over the next few months, the legislative committee will consider ways to insure that police follow the best practices when asking witnesses to identify perpetrators. They may propose a new law, new regulations, or simply better training for officers.
