Wisconsin attorneys weigh in on the possibility of a conviction integrity unit - Detroit Metro Times

Wisconsin's Lack of a Conviction Integrity Unit Leaves Many in the Dark

A state with a long history of law enforcement and the judicial system is without a crucial tool to help exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.

One case that stands out among many others is that of Michael Hirn, who spent nearly two decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit. His release in 2018 was a rare example of the justice system's flaws being exposed.

While many attorneys agree that having a conviction integrity unit (CIU) would be beneficial, there are concerns about its feasibility and effectiveness. Some question whether Wisconsin can afford to implement such a system due to the financial burden it may pose.

The current appeals process is slow and resource-intensive, leaving only those serving over seven years of initial confinement eligible for review through organizations like the Innocence Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Madison Kelly from Grieve Law emphasizes that Wisconsin could greatly benefit from having a CIU. She suggests that it would be ideal to have a unit comprised of retired judges rather than prosecutors, citing concerns over prosecutor integrity in some cases.

However, Scott Wales believes that simply having an existing model is not enough and that the feasibility of such a system depends on various factors.

You know I'm gonna take this one . So Wisconsin's missing a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) like many other states with smart politicians . I think it's time for them to step up their game and create a system that actually works, not just some half-baked version that'll cost them a pretty penny .

I mean, we're already seeing cases where people are serving way too much time for crimes they didn't even commit . It's like they're trying to make an example out of 'em or something . But honestly, I think the real issue here is about resources and priorities .

I'm all for having a unit comprised of retired judges like Kelly suggests . They'd be less biased towards prosecutors' interests and more focused on getting justice done . And yeah, it's true that having one wouldn't come cheap . But think about all the money they'll save when they don't have to appeal cases over and over again .

At the end of the day, this is just another example of how our justice system can be broken . We need people in power who actually care about fixing problems like this .

I'm like, totally bummed out about WI not havin' a CIU . According to data from 2022, there were over 250 wrongful convictions in the US since 1989 - we need a unit ASAP! I mean, think about it... with a CIU, they could review all those cases and clear names like Michael Hirn's. It's crazy that WI is laggin' behind other states like TX & FL which already have these units set up .

Did you see the stats from 2020? Wisconsin had a conviction rate of 92% for murder cases - that's insane! We need to make sure our justice system is on point, not just for wrongfully convicted people but also for victims and their families. It's like, we gotta do better .

Also, have you seen the chart showing the time it takes for appeals in WI? It's like, over 12 years on average That's way too long - a CIU could definitely speed up the process and make sure justice is served

I'm so frustrated for people like Michael Hirn who got wrongly convicted . It's crazy to think that Wisconsin doesn't have a CIU yet, considering how long they've been doing law enforcement . I mean, can you imagine having a team of retired judges reviewing cases? That sounds like a solid plan . The fact that some people are worried about the cost is legit tho , but isn't it worth it to get things right in the justice system ? I'm all for making sure we're not sending innocent people to prison .

I feel so bad for people like Michael Hirn who were wrongly convicted and spent way too much time behind bars . I mean, can't we just have some sort of way to look into these kinds of cases? Like, what if they had a team of retired judges who could review the evidence and make sure everything was on the up & up? It would be like having a second chance for people to prove their innocence . And yeah, I get that it's not going to be cheap, but think about all the money we'd save in the long run if we just caught these mistakes sooner! Plus, at least some people are trying to make a case for why Wisconsin should have a CIU, like Madison Kelly .

It's crazy to think that Wisconsin is one of those states without a CIU ! I mean, you have guys like Michael Hirn serving years in prison for crimes they didn't even commit... that's just messed up . Having a unit to review and potentially exonerate wrongfully convicted people would be a game-changer.

I don't think it's about affordability, though - the justice system can't afford not to have one! It's more about prioritizing and doing what's right. And I get what Scott Wales is saying, but I think that doesn't mean we should just dismiss the idea of a CIU entirely. It's all about finding a balance and making it work for Wisconsin.

I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, it’s wild how some states just get left behind when it comes to protecting people from wrongful convictions . Wisconsin's lack of a CIU is like, a major oversight, you know? I mean, what other state can we point at and be all like "we're doing better than them"? The fact that Michael Hirn spent almost 20 years in prison for something he didn't do is just crazy. And yeah, the appeals process is slow, but come on, it's still way too long! We should be prioritizing getting these people free ASAP .

I'm just worried about people like Michael Hirn getting wrongly convicted and stuck behind bars for ages . I mean, what's the point of having laws if they're gonna be broken all over the place? And yeah, a Conviction Integrity Unit would be super helpful in catching those mistakes, but are we sure it'd work properly here in Wisconsin? I don't wanna put all our hopes on some new system that might not even make a difference. We need to fix the existing appeals process first, get that one right before we start throwing money at another idea .

I think Wisconsin should defo get a CIU ASAP ! It's crazy that they're leaving these people in the dark for so long. I mean, Michael Hirn was stuck behind bars for almost 20 years, and we all know how messed up that is . The fact that some lawyers are saying it might be too expensive just doesn't sit right with me... I'm sure there are ways to make it work without breaking the bank . And yeah, having a team of retired judges would be super beneficial - they can keep it unbiased and focus on finding truth . We gotta do more to help people like Michael get justice!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one . So Wisconsin doesn't have a Conviction Integrity Unit which means people like Michael Hirn who were wrongly convicted are basically left in the dark about their chances of being exonerated? It's crazy to think that after all these years, there's no system in place to help these people. And yeah, I get what they're saying about cost and feasibility, but it's a small price to pay for saving lives and preventing further injustices . I mean, who wouldn't want to try and fix this broken system?

man this is crazy wisconsin needs a conviction integrity unit ASAP. i mean who wants to live with the guilt of wronging someone innocent just because the system was slow or corrupt? michael hirn's case is a perfect example, and it's outrageous that he had to spend almost 20 years behind bars for something he didn't do.

i'm all for trying new things, but we gotta make sure we're doing this right. like what if they bring in some retired judges instead of prosecutors? that way we can trust the integrity of the unit and get these wrongfully convicted people outta there fast

[Image of a person with a puzzled expression, surrounded by papers and pens, with a clock ticking in the background ]

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I'm kinda surprised WI didn't establish a CIU considering all those wrongful convictions over the years ... it's like they're just winging it with the appeals process, which doesn't seem super effective given how long it takes to get things sorted out . I mean, 7 years of initial confinement is a pretty high bar to clear, so yeah, I can see why some folks think having a dedicated team like a CIU would be a game-changer ... maybe they could use retired judges instead of prosecutors, that's an interesting point

ugh, it's so frustrating when u hear about ppl being wrongly convicted n wasted away behind bars... like michael hirn's story is insane! spending 20 yrs in prison for a crime he didn't commit anyway, the lack of a CIU in wisconsin is super concerning. it's like they're just winging it with the appeals process & only those serving over 7 yrs get a chance at review i think it's time for them to step up n create a proper system, maybe one led by retired judges? that way u can trust the integrity of the unit

omg this is so sad for ppl like michael hirn who spent 2 decades in prison for nothin i mean can u imagine being stuck in that situation? it's just not fair! having a conviction integrity unit would be a game changer, btw. i think retired judges are a great idea, they'd be all about fairness and justice meanwhile scott wales is like "hold up, let's figure this out" yeah, i get it, feasibility is key... but still, it's 2025, we should have better systems in place!

omg u guys wisconsin's conviction integrity unit is still a myth lol they got like one case (michael hirn) where someone was released after 20 yrs but thats it no one knows how many ppl r still wrongfully convctd and its not just that the appeals process is super slow rn, its also super expensive so i doubt they'll ever make it happen

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how a state like Wisconsin can't even be bothered to have a CIU . I mean, we've got folks like Michael Hirn who spent 19 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit. That's just crazy talk! It's like the system is supposed to be all about justice and fairness, but sometimes it feels like it's just a bunch of red tape holding people back.

I think it's totally reasonable that some attorneys are worried about the financial burden, but I don't think that's an excuse not to have one. I mean, think about all the money we're already wasting on appeals and whatnot... wouldn't having a CIU save us in the long run? Plus, it would be a huge morale booster for those wrongly convicted folks who are just trying to get their lives back on track.

And yeah, using retired judges instead of prosecutors is a solid idea, IMHO . I mean, we've seen some pretty questionable behavior from prosecutors in the past... it's like they're more interested in winning cases than doing what's right. A CIU with judges would definitely help to cut through all that nonsense and get justice served.

I just read about Wisconsin's lack of a Conviction Integrity Unit . I think it's crazy that they don't have one considering how many people are wrongly convicted . Like, Michael Hirn spent 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't do... it's just not right!

I get why some people might be worried about the cost, but I think it's worth it to help those innocent folks get their lives back on track . And having a unit with retired judges instead of prosecutors could really make a difference .

But what do we know about how CIUs work elsewhere? Is it just a matter of copying someone else's model or is there something specific that Wisconsin needs to focus on?