The Innocence Game: NPR Interview with author Michael Harvey - author of "the Innocence Game, a thriller based on Northwestern University's Innocence Project; (The antagonists are detectives, prosecutors and forensic scientists "who hope to further their careers by increasing their conviction rates." (Sound familiar? HL); WUWM. NPR. 89.7.

STORY: "The Innocence Game," by Michael Harvey,  based on Bonny North's  interview with author Michael Harvey, published by WUWM Milwaukey Public Radio. (89.7); Michael Harvey is the author of The Innocence Game, the first in a series of university mysteries. He is also the author of the Chicago-based Michael Kelly mysteries. A successful novelist, Harvey is also an attorney, an adjunct professor at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and a documentary filmmaker. He is also the co-creator, writer and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated television series Cold Case Files TM.  He lives in Chicago. Our thanks to the Wrongful Convictions Blog for drawing our attention to this story.

GIST: Michael Harvey’s newest novel, The Innocence Game, is based on Northwestern University's Innocence Project. It follows three students who are chosen to participate in a special seminar led by one of the school’s most distinguished professors. They find a case where in they suspect that someone on death row might be innocent. After looking deeper they find a couple other cases that might be linked to it where they again uncover the innocence of the convicted. The students come to the conclusion that the individuals convicted have been framed by some members of the Chicago Police Department; detectives, prosecutors and forensic scientists who hope to further their careers by increasing their conviction rates.  But as the three students submerge themselves deeper they find they too are in corruption's deadly grasp..........Harvey also regards the incentives for convictions as biased and convenient for prosecutors, cops and forensic scientists alike. Harvey attests that the current structure is “flawed”, because based on the convictions they acquire, promotions that further their own careers soon follow.  The system is most definitely skewed towards the prosecution due to the amount of power they have at their disposal and preconceived notions; a reality that Harvey doesn’t see changing in the future. Harvey believes “the power of inertia within system”, will prevent its structural change because those at the top are not willing to compromise their own situation or hold on control."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.wuwm.com/post/innocence-game-thriller-based-northwestern-universitys-innocence-project

 PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Dear reader: Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following developments relating to this case.

I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.