THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                    TAG: 9406170432 
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON                     PAGE: 07    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940619                                 LENGTH:

MORE WRONGFUL RELEASES THAN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

{LEAD} ``Justice's wrongs'' (Beacon, June 12), while focusing on the issue of the recently overturned convictions or releases from detention of individuals later proved to be innocent, pointed out a more disturbing fact that, as Editorial Page Editor Beth Barber implied, passes largely without comment or concern by the media and the general public.

Her comment that ``the protections offered the accused, plus the vagaries and variables, also mean that just as some innocents are convicted, more should-be felons go free'' should set off the alarms just as quickly, and far more loudly, as the wrongful conviction of one who is innocent.

{REST} Sadly, this seems true only for those directly involved; i.e., the victims and their families. Clearly, taken one-on-one, the conviction and imprisonment of an innocent individual are far more disturbing that the dismissal of charges against one who is responsible for a crime. However, the release of criminals due to dismissal on ``technicalities,'' recanting of statements by fearful witnesses, light sentences and poorly timed parole occur far more often than do wrongful convictions.

As much as we would all like it to be so, the criminal-justice system isn't perfect. Police, prosecutors, judges and parole boards are not things; they're people. Our system isn't perfect because it is made up of human beings. If human beings were perfect, we wouldn't need a criminal-justice system. Unfortunately, wrongful convictions will occur, but they will occur only rarely. As Ms. Barber stated, ``Exceptions are what make news - and all too easily skew perspec-tive.''

It is indeed unfortunate that the general public has become desensitized (because of a lack of emphasis by the media?) to what should be the real concern about our system's shortcomings: the all-too-frequent premature release back into our society of individuals who present a danger to us and our families.

A. M. Jacocks Jr.

Pungo

by CNB