User reviews

A really shocking expose into the unreliability of bite mark analysis and eye witness testimony.

As the series progresses you see how innocent people were convinced of crimes by a jury of people who innocently believed what they heard in court. Unfortunately, once you hear the backstories, the flaws in the forensics, the influencing of eyewitnesses, you cannot believe these people who were convicted, often on one expert witness, or one eye witness, and nothing more. But that's the beauty of hindsight.

Beware, it would have you believe that all bite mark analysis is hokum and no eye witnesses should be relied upon, when in reality the lesson should be neither should be considered individually sufficient evidence enough go to court.

Otherwise a really well made, often emotional (i cried) insight into injustice and the actual humanity of these convictions. I recommend

This is in response to the person who discounted this documentary (and The Innocence Project, in general, I guess) entirely because ex-O.J. Defense Atty. Barry Scheck is the cofounder and Director of The Project. Here's what a lot of observers, me included, think about that. This doc series is about how unreliable certain forensic evidence (e.g., bite-mark analysis) and eyewitness testimony is, and how innocent people have been wrongly convicted as a result. Now Scheck is justly (in)famous for popularizing the phrase "cesspool of contamination" to describe the Crime Lab in L.A., and thereby helping O.J. (who the majority of people, me included, still think was guilty of 1st Degree Murder) be acquitted. Assuming these opinions are true, that essentially means Scheck used the unreliability of certain forensic evidence to help acquit a guilty person. But some of us believe he started The Innocence Project to use some of the same legal (and scientific) arguments to go back in history and get truly (and as some watching this doc, including me, would say, OBVIOUSLY) innocent people released from long prison sentences, incl. on Death Row. Also part of this, the theory would be, is that Scheck may still feel some guilt over his role in the Simpson acquittal, and this is a way to atone, at least in part. Does this lessen the relevance or impact or validity of the points made in The Innocence Files documentary? I'd submit o you: No. It doesn't. So watch it and judge for yourself it's significance. As for me, I'd give it a solid 8 out of 10!

So it's approximately 5:00 am and I should be sleeping but instead I feel compelled to submit a review for this incredible docuseries. While I appreciate the submission of other reviews, I think many missed the mark in describing the impact of these wrongful convictions. The distortion of evidence was a big part of the series, but I think the overriding message was how reputation and ego were more important than the truth in virtually every case. Not to mention that a strong case could be made that many of these convictions came down to ole fashioned bigotry as well. Corruption on the prosecutorial level is given a close look and scrutinized. Corruptive tactics are widely known to have been used by police in the 80s/90s. However, to see prosecutors aiding and abetting alongside those corruptive tactics was sickening to say the least. Its truly shocking as a viewer and aspiring lawyer to see how flawed our criminal justice system can be. I think a strong case can also be be made that prosecutors should not be granted immunity for their role in wrongful convictions but instead should be punished for their ineptitude / complacency. It's encouraging to see some changes have been made since these convictions were handed down, e.g. the new Philadelphia District Attorney, but there's so much more that needs to be done on a federal level to make sure these types of situations simply cannot happen. The only thing preventing me from giving the series a 10 is I felt the pacing could have been faster. Some of the episodes seemed drawn out and could have been condensed into shorter versions without losing information.

To date I don't think there's been a series that has infuriated me so much. Following cases taken on by the innocence project to clear the names of falsely accused and wrongfully imprisoned. I was actually open mouthed listening to the details of what had been done to these victims by people who abused their power, or hid behind the label of "expert" to get convictions and let people languishing in jail for decades, knowing full well they were innocent. They not only destroyed the lives of the people they imprisoned but the byproduct of their lies and deceit was letting the true perpetrator of these horrendous acts be free to commit more crimes. It perfectly addresses racism, cultural lines and social issues, all in all it's a very well made documentary that is tragic and heartbreaking but manages to project a message of hope. Side note. I wanted to throat punch that fat dentist so bad!!!!! How does he sleep at night!!!

I knew nothing about this doc before I began watching, although I am very familiar with the work that Innocence Project does. It is incredibly well done, and it's very involving right from the start.

Although we all know about how miscarriages of justice occur, I have to admit that I was still shocked by the behavior of both police officers and prosecutors that dealt with these cases. The lengths that a some of these people, in what are usually fine and noble professions, will go to to make a conviction almost defies belief.

I felt so many emotions watching this series, and it was a very satisfying experience indeed. I feel very comfortable recommending this to anyone who has interest in the law, police procedure, the human condition, or all three.

This is a gem amongst Netflix documentaries based on crime and wrong convictions. A well directed documentary with deep real stories about people wrongfully convicted. Highlight recommended! 11/10

What clearly comes across is the arrogance of that character Dr West, who clearly seems to think he couldn't get anything wrong. Then there's the arrogance of the prosecutor Forrest Allgood. What is it with American "justice"? If something else could account for the impressions, or they could be made by someone else, you can't use it as definitive evidence. And what was the motive for those who were wrongly convicted to do those murders? Nuts. It seems that some police and lawyers in the US are more concerned with getting the result they want rather than finding out who really did the crimes. Do you work properly, guys, and don't just ASSUME anything.

My big take away from this documentary was that it was kind of scary, these people went to jail for many years based on bogus science and circumstantial evidence. It certainly makes you think how many people incarcerated are innocent, and how many people have gotten away with murder.

To see how arrogant and unapolagetic Dr. West is just makes me mad to a degree that I didn't have to witness in myself for a very very long time. This series along with others on netflix shows exactly how the system can and will fail if there is always a Bias towards convicting someone fast and without improper scientific measures. Glad I don't live in the USA

If you really lile true crime documentaries.. watch the series but sometimes you can get a bit boring due to long lines of narrative..

A shocking expose of the extremely flawed American criminal system, with great in depths of the unique cases. After watching this series, I realised how tricky eyewitness testimony and is and that bite mark analyses is almost unusable in most cases. You can also see how the American justice system takes a extremly long time to get someone out of prison while they have a ton of evindence to proof their innocence, and whilst the extremely unlucky people basiclly are rotting away in prison. In conclusion: Netflix made a eye opening, in depth documentary about the many flaws in the American justice system. Good job, the Innocence Project!

"The Innocence Files" (S01, 8eps, 1hr, Netflix) is a documentary that exposes the fallacy of our justice system. Far too many times, small town prosecutors use their far greater resources to persecute those who can't defend themselves and you have a prisons filled with innocents. So, yeh, this show will get you riled up. However, it's presented with all the excitement of grass growing. I can't tell you how long it took to get through the first two, 1 hr related episodes since we kept falling asleep! It's just presented so poorly. They could really have used producers from Law & Order or other successful law shows.

The premise of the show is that innocent people are in prison. However, what the series actually reveals is the corrupt legal system in America. The cases that are explored are troubling and heart breaking but the what is exposed is the vial, heinous, racist, dishonest, etc. legal system in America. From out right liars in the prosecutors offices, bogus science accepted as fact, manipulated eye-witnesses, and violence committed on helpless suspects to gangs of cops practicing their twisted form of vigilante justice on civilians, this is simply an amazing documentary.

The Innocence Files was an incredible documentary series. I wasn't sure if I would like it as sometimes I just find miscarriage of justice docs too frustrating to watch, but this was gripping, heartbreaking and mind blowing all in one. The cases were shown from all angles, the victims of the initial crime, the families, lawyers and the accused, as well as people who were involved in putting them in prison in the first place. There are some wild, bold stories you almost couldn't believe happened. I really hope there is a season 2.

Nine wonderfully put together documentary documenting the incarceration of wrongly convicted felons.

Lot of emotion attached to all the stories. Could have been more tighter in terms of documentation. At certain points was little slow. However true emotions make it worth a watch. Makes a person feel thankful to god for not going through the life these people went through.

In the developed world I think there's little question. So this is going to be another retread of showing the crapulance. But it's good in that. Only reason I give it an 8 is because of how the interviews are done and the pacing.

I felt the show needed some editing and tends to drag at points but otherwise eye opening and disturbing. If you are emotionally fragile please do not watch this series. Some of the cases can depress you and make you lose faith in the American justice system. In second season the case where a black teenager was on death roll because the jury and cops had worked hard to nail him despite his innocence was very moving. They actually charged his only alibi with perjury for speaking the truth.

This series blew my mind. When I saw that it took place in Mississippi I knew that the principle prosecution would be slanted, to say the least. The arrogance of the so called forensic odontologist Michael West is astounding. Having been born and raised in Mississippi, I've come across so many doctors like him. I can't believe that when a second child was killed, they thought copy cat killer rather than the possibility that they prosecuted the wrong man! This series also shows that overworked public defense counselors cannot provide the same effective services for the poor as their well-paid counterparts can. It also shows the subtle racism that is rampant in the Deep South. I'm convinced that if these would have been white children, they would have focused on black men and not the white men who would have been involved in their lives.

Unusually not so much repetitive docu-series from US. It is still slow advancing and some what repetitive built up depiction of an event. The aim of captivating drama can some times be to much. Almost all documentaries are like this today. Something that what takes 1-2 hours to view would take 15-45 minutes to explain with more density in the telling. I'm not saying that shorter and more intense telling is better but it would be a change for once if they had brought down the episodes to 45 minutes each instead of an hour. So many things that is understood with a even low IQ is slowly depicted not only once but several times. Makes me as viewer to feel like they think I'm an imbecile. To be fair, this show did much better than other crime documentary shows in general.

As no-American I get a picture of a legal system that is more concerned in conviction than justice. If a suspect is found it stops there. The decision is made by police, prosecution, victims and their families there and then. If some what the evidence at some point does not ad up it is common that prosecution narrative is altered, and as shown - evidence to, to fit with goal to convict no matter what. The interest to be just falls flat when a suspect is pinned in the schedule to be processed in the legal system. It becomes prestige. A prestigious legal system is in opposition to a just and equal legal system.

This series depict a flawed system. I can't imagine that all cases are handled the same same way every time and every where but it gives a picture of a justice culture that is far from safe for any one that some how gets involved in a legal process. A culture that makes it easy, even preferable in some cases for some involved, to be unjust and with alternative objectives.

Some thing that I miss in all this is the medias role in all of this. The pressure starts there and with a snowball effect it brakes the barricade that is put up to just and equal protect innocent and serve justice. Political agendas is manipulated by tossing public opinion in a direction that is best received by the public. Some times even media tells the public what they want. There are many documentaries telling stories about innocent people being wrongfully convicted and one thing is the same every time. When the truth is revealed prestige stands in the way with help of bureaucracy making it hard to exculpate wrongfully convicted.

It is not up to me to say what is correct, right and truthful in this show. I'm not American. The legal system in my country is far from perfect. There are some things that are similar but some are not. Never the less it gets me thinking. That is good. People should think. Is this how it is, should be or must be? Next step is to decide to do or not do some thing about it.

Good show, better than many similar ones. There are most likely other views in these cases not represented in this show but let it be a conversation starter and see if it can have a positive impact in the future.

I have been following documentaries like Ted Bundy, Osho. This one get too deep. I mean come on man! Innocent in jail? Go for it. It's a perfect weekend chill thing.

This documentary series is incredibly well made and chronicles the escapades of the Innocence Project attempting to exonerate convicts that were found guilty under questionable circumstances. It goes over 9 cases and shows the process of exoneration in good detail. Everyone involved in these cases are focused on, the police, the DA's, the prosecution, the witnesses and forensic scientists are all focused on. Different flaws of the justice system are brought to light, and the stories selected are enthralling and are presented in a straightforward way. All sides are taken into account, it is a well made and mostly unbiased documentary series. It is also very important for US Citizens to watch, as it will likely bring to potential jurors more skepticism of certain evidence used. It is a fantastic documentary series overall, and a great insight into the flaws of criminal courts across the US.

Some episodes have subtitles for people with very strong accents but some don't and I cannot understand a word some of the interviewees say - Especially Episode 6