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This week’s current event is about an Ohio man named Ricky Jackson who was freed from prison after almost 40 years of incarceration. After being wrongfully convicted for a 1975 murder, he was exonerated in 2014 due to new evidence that surfaced and the hard work of lawyers at the Ohio Innocence Project. This case highlights several aspects of the United States legal system including prosecutorial discretion, access to justice, wrongful convictions, and the impact of race on judicial outcomes.

Prosecutorial discretion refers to how prosecutors can choose which cases they will pursue and how aggressively they will do so. In this case, a prosecutor had initially pursued a life sentence for Jackson but eventually offered him a plea deal of 25 years – something which proved crucial as it allowed him to be released sooner than if he had been sentenced with life imprisonment. As evidenced here, prosecutorial discretion has both positive consequences such as giving those accused more favorable sentences and negative ones such as pursuing overzealous charges against individuals without sufficient evidence or for political gain.

Access to justice is another issue exemplified by this story since there wouldn’t have been any way for Ricky Jackson to prove his innocence until 2014 when advances in DNA testing provided new evidence that vindicated him. Prior to that point he was stuck relying on unreliable witnesses which were ultimately proven false but not before doing irreparable damage to his future prospects and rights as a citizen owing largely to inadequate representation during trial proceedings involving mostly circumstantial evidence beyond reasonable doubt standard required in criminal cases where liberty interests are implicated (Cobb v State).

The risks associated with wrongful convictions are also highlighted in this case because even though prosecutors had enough probable cause initially (false testimony) without further evaluation or review through DNA testing their actions resulted in nearly four decades wasted away behind bars depriving someone of their basic human rights – freedom amongst other things like financial stability and emotional well-being (Brucker et al., 2015). The costs associated with wrongful convictions are tremendous whether monetary or otherwise since these losses often cannot be fully recovered once committed meaning many people cannot obtain legal recourse from damages done nor can they truly seek meaningful restitution no matter what type of settlement may be available (Leo & Ofshe 1998).

Finally, race has long played an influential role within US Legal System especially regarding jury selection processes wherein minorities disproportionately tend get excluded from serving on juries simply because administrators feel comfortable making decisions about who should serve based solely off their racial categorization (Friedman 2006). Given this trend it’s hardly surprising then why African Americans account for nearly half all death row inmates despite only comprising 13% of our population overall – although trends like this aren’t necessarily applicable given Jackson’s sentencing didn’t result death penalty instead just very long term incarceration still nevertheless racism remains relevant factor across all areas law leading some scholars argue certain measures ethnic quotas needed ensure diversity represented fairness sake throughout court room setting otherwise disparities continue exist perpetuity righting wrongs becomes difficult without proper reform place (Hines 2003).

Overall Ricky Jackson’s story serves reminder us why it’s important stay vigilant fight miscarriages justice strive make sure everyone afforded same level due process regardless background race etc… Although technological advancements made great strides widening scope forensic science providing essential aid solving cases still systemic injustices remain prevalent everyday lives affecting countless others ability live free fear oppression so struggle achieving equality must ongoing effort rather than one-time endeavor requiring commitment advocate victims society particularly vulnerable minority communities nation large order achieve lasting progress concerning fundamental liberties promised those residing United States legal code alike .

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