Wrongful conviction
This website tells the story of Chicagoan Charles Jones, a 33 year old African American incarcerated since he was 17 for two gang-related shootings.
Charles was convicted for a murder and an attempted murder, neither of which he committed.
Fact: There's a sworn affidavit from a witness that confirms that Charles was at another place at the time of the first shooting.
Fact: The actual victim of the second shooting has sworn that Charles wasn't his assailant!
So why was Charles convicted?
He was coerced into confessing, after being brutally assaulted and threatened by the arresting officers. He was young, frightened, confused and in pain. He ended up doing what the police told him to do.
Charles is not alone. The methods used by the police in his case, to have him "confess" to crimes he didn't commit, were common practice in the Chicago Police Department at the time. But with your help, we can help set the record straight for at least one man who spent his adult life in jail, based on the forced confession he made as an assaulted boy. He is now serving a 40 year sentence.
The facts are simple and straightforward: Charles deserves justice.
Charles really fell through the cracks. If you think you can help, or have information that might be useful, please let us know! For the record, he does not qualify for the Innocence Project, because there is no DNA evidence involved and he has less than 10 years left of his sentence.
You can contact friends of Charles through email.
Or write to Charles directly:
Charles Jones #B58484
Illinois River C.C.
PO Box 1900
Canton IL 61520
Wrongful conviction
Charles Jones, in prison since 1991 for crimes he did not commit
Update site: March 24, 2008
