Baltimore Police had evidence of his innocence. He went to prison anyway.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Wrongful Convictions

Introduction

In 1991, Anthony Hall was working as a cement mixer at Laurel Construction to support himself and his two young children, Demetris and Avonrea. Then his life forever changed.

At the time, Hall was 29, and he loved his family, dogs, and basketball. He excelled at hoops even though he was only 5 feet 5 inches tall.

But then Baltimore Police arrested him for a crime that he did not commit: the deadly shooting of Gerard Dorsey, which happened on North Brice Street near Edmondson Avenue in West Baltimore on July 13, 1991. He was 20, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

Wrongful Conviction and Exoneration

Hall was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and served more than 25 years in prison. The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project reinvestigated his case, and in 2023, Baltimore Circuit Judge Charles J. Peters granted a petition for writ of actual innocence and awarded him a new trial.

Lawsuit against Baltimore Police Department

On Friday, Hall, now 61, of Baltimore, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore against the Baltimore Police Department. The complaint also names three investigators who he alleges engaged in “intentional and unconscionable misconduct” that resulted in his wrongful conviction. They are two former detectives, Donald Licato and Frank Barlow, and Sgt. John Barrick, who is dead.

The lawsuit contains nine counts, including fabrication of evidence, failure to adequately investigate and disclose exculpatory and impeachment evidence, and malicious prosecution.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

This case highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in achieving justice and reducing inequalities. The SDGs aim to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions (Goal 16) and ensure access to justice for all (Target 16.3).

Police Misconduct and Coercive Techniques

The lawsuit alleges that police coerced two witnesses, Nancy Hill and Gerald Patterson, into falsely testifying at trial. No physical evidence tied Hall to the killing, and he maintained his innocence from the beginning.

The Police Department, the lawsuit claims, has “long maintained a policy, practice, or custom of using coercive techniques in interviews and interrogations to obtain confessions and false statements.” That’s along with fabricating information, withholding exculpatory and impeachment evidence and failing to conduct investigations, the complaint alleges.

Compensation and Apologies

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Feb. 14 approved more than $2.36 million in compensation — plus attorney fees and housing benefits — for Hall. Gov. Wes Moore said he wanted to tell Hall “how deeply sorry we are for the wrongs that happened to you.”

“There is no amount of money, nor apologies, nor acknowledgment to truly be adequate to right the wrongs that happened to this gentleman’s life,” Moore said.

Conclusion

Anthony Hall’s wrongful conviction and subsequent exoneration shed light on the flaws within the criminal justice system and the need for reform. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework for addressing these issues and ensuring equal access to justice for all individuals.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the wrongful conviction of Anthony Hall and the alleged misconduct of the Baltimore Police Department. This issue is directly connected to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.

The article highlights the alleged misconduct of the Baltimore Police Department, including fabrication of evidence, failure to adequately investigate and disclose exculpatory evidence, and malicious prosecution. These actions undermine the rule of law and equal access to justice, which are addressed by Target 16.3. The article also mentions the need for effective and accountable institutions, as the police department is accused of maintaining a policy and practice of coercive techniques, fabricating information, and withholding evidence, which relates to Target 16.6.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 16.3: Proportion of population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism.
• Indicator for Target 16.6: Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles.

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators related to the identified targets. However, to measure progress towards Target 16.3, the proportion of individuals who have experienced a dispute and accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism can be used as an indicator. Additionally, the existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles can serve as an indicator for measuring progress towards Target 16.6.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: thebaltimorebanner.com

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