erroneous conviction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "erroneous conviction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal contexts to refer to a situation where a person is wrongfully found guilty of a crime. Example: "The documentary highlighted several cases of erroneous conviction, shedding light on the flaws in the justice system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Mr. Washington's lawyers, while intent now on winning immediate parole on the assault charge, said they would use the pardon and erroneous conviction to press once more for reform of the evidence limitation.

The New York Times

Uncertainty will also bolster the Serbs' erroneous conviction that they were the real victims of the wars of the Nineties, and of the Hague Tribunal, and that - as some in Belgrade were quick to point out yesterday - "Serbs are dying in The Hague".

Independent

It is a concise, informative and upsetting chronicle of a crime — the rape and beating of a jogger in Central Park in 1989 — that shocked New York and led to the erroneous conviction of five teenagers, all of whom are interviewed extensively in the film.

The New York Times

The enchantment in the title of this entertainingly piquant first novel by Tucker Malarkey comes from a line in the Koran and seems to refer to an attitude of nonbelief, an erroneous conviction that the faith of the ancestors is a sort of bedazzlement, a falsehood.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Washington's lawyers complained that the governor, in his language, had declined to admit Mr. Washington "is stone cold innocent" of the murder-rape and had offered him no compassionate credit for the decade he already served on death row for the erroneous conviction.

The New York Times

Participating in a single erroneous conviction through "authoritative testimony" renders the forensic contribution to just convictions markedly insignificant.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Considering that DNA is available in just a fraction of all crimes, a much larger universe of erroneous convictions — and false confessions — surely exists.

The New York Times

And officials in at least two of the city's district attorneys' offices — for Brooklyn and Manhattan — said they had not found any erroneous convictions.

The New York Times

The application of the death penalty in the United States is biased against the poor and people of color, and characterized by a shocking number of erroneous convictions.

The New York Times

Mr. Pataki said he had a personal brush with erroneous convictions in the 1980's, when Nathaniel Carter, with whom the governor played basketball as a teenager in Peekskill, N.Y., was convicted of murdering his former wife's foster mother.

The New York Times

• To the Editor: Your editorial accurately describes the rapidly deteriorating crisis of excessive workload and insufficient resources in public defender offices, which is likely to increase the risk of erroneous convictions, which would lead to retrials, more clogged courts and inconvenience and frustration to victims and witnesses in communities across this nation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal cases, use "erroneous conviction" to specifically highlight that a conviction was based on a mistake or flawed evidence. This can add nuance compared to simply stating a "wrongful conviction".

Common error

Avoid using "erroneous conviction" in casual conversation or informal writing. It's a formal term best suited for legal, journalistic, or academic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "erroneous conviction" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific type of legal outcome. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

19%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "erroneous conviction" is a grammatically sound term used to describe a mistaken legal judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, particularly in legal, journalistic, and academic contexts. While less common than alternatives like ""wrongful conviction"", it emphasizes the error leading to the unjust outcome. Its formal register makes it unsuitable for casual conversation. Predominantly found in news and media, science, and wiki sources, "erroneous conviction" plays a key role in discussions surrounding legal reform and justice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wrongful conviction

Emphasizes the injustice of the conviction, highlighting its moral and ethical implications.

false conviction

Focuses on the factual incorrectness of the conviction, suggesting it's based on inaccurate information.

mistaken conviction

Highlights the error or mistake that led to the conviction, suggesting a lack of intent.

unjust conviction

Stresses the unfairness of the conviction, implying a violation of principles of justice.

flawed conviction

Indicates that the conviction process or evidence contained significant defects.

invalid conviction

Suggests the conviction is not legally sound or enforceable.

miscarriage of justice

A broader term referring to any failure of the justice system, but often used to describe wrongful convictions.

wrongful imprisonment

Focuses on the consequence of the erroneous conviction, emphasizing the unjust deprivation of liberty.

unfounded conviction

Implies the conviction lacks a solid basis in evidence or law.

unjustified conviction

Highlights the lack of a valid reason or rationale for the conviction.

FAQs

What does "erroneous conviction" mean?

An "erroneous conviction" refers to a legal judgment where a person is found guilty of a crime they did not commit, based on flawed evidence or a mistake in the judicial process. It's similar to a "wrongful conviction".

How is an "erroneous conviction" different from a "wrongful conviction"?

While often used interchangeably, "erroneous conviction" highlights the mistake or error that led to the incorrect judgment, whereas "wrongful conviction" emphasizes the injustice resulting from the incorrect verdict.

What are some common causes of "erroneous convictions"?

Common causes of "erroneous convictions" include eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, flawed forensic science, prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective assistance of counsel. These factors can lead to a "mistaken conviction".

What can I say instead of "erroneous conviction"?

You can use alternatives like ""wrongful conviction"", "false conviction", or "miscarriage of justice" depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.