Making a Case for Innocence

This book is about a female investigator for the defense in court cases. I have often wondered how this job is done, what the mind set is, to possibly be trying to help someone that may be in fact guilty. This book has opened my mind to why a person would do such. We all know that the justice system may at times get things wrong, and if not for these type of investigators, more may be found guilty that are not. The author's writing style flows and it keeps you hooked until the last page. The addition of the "Cases in the News" were excellent. Just enough to let give you a brief synopsis of the crime, trial, conviction and how years later, they were exonerated and the method used for the exoneration. I read this book in one seating, very engrossing. This is a really good book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.

.MAKING A CASE FOR INNOCENCE BY APRIL HIGUERA

These are all compelling cases and TRUE STORIES of a Criminal Defence Investigator!
The Author April Higuera in an easy to understand and conversationalist writing style educates the
reader why it is absolutely imperative to have a Criminal Defense Investigator on your legal team if
you are convicted of a crime.

The Prosecutor or District Attorney's office usually have at their disposal numerous investigators besides the police when prosecuting a crime. She has cited numerous cases where she has been the
investigator for the defense and has asked questions of expert witnesses refuting the prosecutor's findings. In most cases the prosecutor's do not look for other perpetrators or anybody else that could be the potential guilty party once they make an arrest. Defendants on trial for any crime should insist on having a defence investigator for several reasons which she cites in this book.

The prosecuting Attorney's only have to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for juries to return from deliberating on a case with a guilty verdict. Police are supposed to protect society from harm and not be biased when arresting someone of a crime. Witnesses are not supposed to be coerced or forced to speak about an accused person without proper representation if they request it. If a witness is not sure what they saw it is better to say nothing immediately if they are in shock or for any other reason. Police have been known to twist or bend a defendant's words while a defendant is trying to cooperate. If a witness or a defendant says nothing sometimes they are seen as uncooperative or unwilling to help.

Whether somebody is guilty or innocent they are still entitled to a fair trial and have competent legal representation. The Author cites case after case with innocent people being wrongly convicted without a Criminal Investigator working for the defence. This was interesting and enlightening information that has proven and convinced me that if I am ever wrongly accused to make sure my defence Attorney has somebody as skilled and thorough as this author working behind the scenes asking and interviewing potential witnesses and expert witnesses important questions. Often this Author has done background checks on those testifying in cases because contrary to what I always believed that the prosecutor has to supply the defence attorney with all discovery material and that doesn't always happen.

Thank you to Net Galley, April Niguera for my ARC.