Read the excerpts from "Wrongful Convictions" by
John R. Firman and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.
Which statement best describes the relationship
between the evidence in the two excerpts?
"Wrongful Convictions"
Funding and resources. Many things you'd like to fix-
O Both excerpts show that increasing the budget for
the criminal justice system will decrease crime
whether it's training, whether it's getting more DNA
rates.
evidence, whether it's getting it faster-a lot of this
stuff takes a lot of money, so certainly money, dollars,
Both excerpts show that the criminal justice system
and resources were discussed generally, policies and
does not have a suitable budget to make changes.
training
• The Just Mercy excerpt shows that funding for
criminal ustice systems is ineffective, while the
Just Mercy
Wrongful Convictions" excerpt says the funding S
necessary.
Finally, we spend lots of money. Spending on jails and
prisons by state and federal governments has risen
The "Wrongful Convictions" excerpt shows that the
from $6.9 billion in 1980 to nearly $80 billion today.
criminal justice system has received sufficient
State governments have been forced to shift funds
funding, while the Just Mercy excerpt says that it
from public services, education, health, and welfare to
has received t0o much.
pay for incarceration, and they now face