We the 'Team' dedicate PROJECT: Not Guilty to the falsely arrested and wrongfully convicted.

Our endeavors are multi-purposed with the ultimate goal of taking part in the criminal justice system reform movement in Texas. Along the way, we will attempt to raise public awareness about the causes and effects of false arrests that result in wrongful convictions. The PNG Team will work directly with the public at large in an effort to find preventative solutions. We will also look for ways to address the ongoing cruel and unusual punishment suffered by those systematically denied Full Pardons based on innocence in (Non-DNA, Non-Death Row) closed & cleared cases alike.  As the public grows aware of the State's obvious roadblocks set up to deter and prevent applying for clemency, hopefully the voters and taxpayers will take notice. We can only hope and pray that all existing and future projects will follow our lead and finally address (all) claims of innocence.  

POLICE AND PROSECUTORIAL ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS
We are thankful for the existence of other projects covering police misconduct issues. In an effort to do our part, we will address prosecutorial misconduct. Today, the police and prosecution teams enjoy certain degrees of immunity in regards to being held accountable. With the power of absolute immunity enticing and protecting prosecutors, combined with the partial immunity enjoyed by rogue police with quotas, the vicious cycle may never end. Hopefully Police Unions and Prosecution Associations will step up and publicly denounce rogue individuals with over powering evidence against them. The PNG Team will lobby for change that includes police and prosecutorial accountability with absolutely zero built in protections, when it can be shown that laws and/or rights were violated while in the process of executing their duties. Preventing prosecutors from being able to present information to the Grand Juries without the accused and his/her counsel decreases the opportunity for misconduct & corruption.        

CRIME VICTIM 'EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION' PROCEDURE REFORMS
The PNG Team will lobby to require that all interviews with victims and witnesses be video taped two minutes prior to entering the room and two minutes after the conclusion. Absolutely no access to any wires and/or recording components would prevent tampering. The activation and deactivation through a password protected off premise DVR computer terminal would place an additional layer of security.  

INTERVIEW & INTERROGATION  PROCEDURE REFORMS
Marathon style interviews / interrogations of the innocent has led to false confessions and even has caused witnesses and crime victims to falsely testify. Steps to prevent false arrests and wrongful convictions starts with suggesting that all interviews / interrogations be no longer than two hours with one ten minute break. All interviews / interrogations should be video taped beginning two minutes prior to entering the room and two minutes after the conclusion, with absolutely no access to any wires and/or recording components. To include activation and deactivation through password protected off premise DVR computer terminal. Cities that allow detectives to operate without checks & balances eventually find themselves settling out of court with taxpayers funds. States that allow cities to run amuck also results in great monetary losses. Cruel and unusual punishment of the accused and witnesses is counter productive and must be addressed. Remember; faulty eyewitness identifications and false/coerced confessions are leading causes for wrongful convictions.   

CLEMENCY (FULL PARDON) REFORMS 
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will only consider an application if one can obtain the unanimous recommendation(s) from the three trial officials (Sheriff, DA, and Judge), thus being an insult and a sick a joke. We will attempt to educate the the voter and taxpayer on the State's obvious and blatant roadblocks set up to deter and prevent applying for clemency.  For it is the taxpayer that funds the $80,000.00. plus, plus, per year, per wrongful conviction. It is the voter that votes in the District Attorneys and Governors. It is the DA that routinely takes out charges on weak cases with no intentions on taking them all the way to trial. It is the Governor that systematically denies the innocent clemency. Prior to casting your vote for the next DA and/or Governor, consider asking them about their plans for dealing with the claims of innocence having nothing to do with DNA, Death Row or currently in custody. Eventually, half of the entire State will be either on probation, parole or community supervision, with the other half working in the criminal justice field.     

PLEA BARGAIN REFORMS
No Contest / Nolo Contendere pleas are recorded as 'Guilty' pleas and will not receive pardon recognition, due to the convicted being reluctant to admit guilt, show remorse and prove he/she is rehabilitated. The U.S. Supreme Court encourages the utilization of the plea bargain system, which results in 90 to 95 percent of cases being pled out. The Courts and arrogant Assistant District Attorneys (former & current alike) would have us believe that if all cases were afforded a full jury trial the entire system would break down. Contrary to this, the Team encourages the public to participate in the utilization of rights to a full jury trial, if and when falsely accused. Due to the State of Texas having a long history of systematically encouraging false arrests and subsequent plea bargains in order to obtain convictions; it is imperative that any reforms include revamping the plea bargaining process and implementing safe guards to prevent its future abuse. The team will study the process and publish its findings along with possible solutions.

SEARCH WARRANT REFORMS
Currently in order to obtain a search warrant there isn't any 'Advocate for the Arrestee.' Police Department(s) contact the District Attorney's Office(s) and then a Judge is contacted. A Search Warrant is issued and has no set amount of time in which the Warrant is to be run. There are no set amount of 'Operators' in charge of carrying out the execution. S.W.A.T. Team(s) can be comprised of individuals culled from different areas and sections leaving room for misconduct and/or injuries. The militarization of police departments across the country has armed S.W.A.T. Teams with very sophisticated weapons and tactics designed to bring situations to an abrupt end. Thus, instead of surveilling the object of the Search Warrant and taking him/her into custody outside and/or call and request them to exit, they opt to use flash bang devices, and enter with fingers on triggers. If the occupants own dogs of any breed, they are almost always shot immediately and never suffer any consequences due to being held immune by the District Attorney's Office. One S.W.A.T. Team Leader respected by the PNG Team, Sgt. Gebphart has suggested the inclusion of an 'Advocate for the Arrestee.' Without anyone to play advocate for the citizenry, America looks like China and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We will work on seeing this very important area of reform get the attention is deserves. Without it we as a nation will remain a tender-box and avoidable civil unrest will eventually break out from coast to coast and it will include humans of all races, colors, and creeds.    

GOING PUBLIC
The criminal actions of those responsible for conspiring to knowingly engage in a false arrest and wrongful conviction are insulated from prosecution by degrees of immunity. Thus, explaining why the majority is never punished for their crimes. We may never fully understand why traditional media coverage of the wrongfully convicted fails to mention the police, prosecutor and judge involved in these travesties. Their unwillingness to do so has inspired us to create the Wrongfully Convicted CASES page. Complete with (Public Information) containing the names of the accused, thier attorneys, arresting officers, prosecutors on record, and judges. We will also include copies of the Letters of Denial for Full Pardons based on innocence and 'all' evidence. By allowing the public to view Police Reports, Mug shots, Certified Case Files, Motions and Full Pardon Denials, the State's dirty little secrete will be out. As it is now, the standard and traditional media outlets jump at the opportunity to broadcast the name and image of the accused and exonerated. It would be a great service to the public at large if the media followed our lead and covered all those involved.

AWARDS / RECOGNITION WHERE IT'S DESERVED
Please help us honor individuals that are known for doing good deeds on behalf of others. Nominate your choice for the PROJECT: Not Guilty 'Public Hero' Award. Remember this is not an anti-police or anti-government project, we understand that there are many very honest, ethical and professional police and prosecutors serving our State, so feel free to nominate the ones that stand out. We must constantly recognize the 'good' behavior of the individual in an effort to persuade the masses to do even better. Submit your nomination here.  

SPEAK UP & GET INVOLVED
As the project grows our purpose and goals will grow, which is why we welcome logical input and ideas.
We are currently in the process of conducting: Online Interviews, Petitions, Surveys, and more. Visit our BLOGABOUTIT BlogCast and Participate. Remember you don't have to be a victim of the criminal justice system in order to get involved? 

THANK YOU
Thanks for taking time to read about some of our purposes and goals, now please consider letting a friend or two know where we are and come back whenever you wish. Don't wait until you've been personally wronged in order to speak up and do something about it. Share your personal stories and solutions to the problems surrounding the universe of  "Not Guilty" on the PNG  BLOGABOUTIT Forum.
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