David Frediani - AP Photo
In 2000, David Frediani was convicted of the murder of Helena Greenwood. A key piece of evidence: Frediani's DNA was found in skin particles underneath Greenwood's fingernails. Ironically, at the time of her death in 1984, Greenwood, a biochemist, was working to find new uses for DNA technology. She was strangled to death in her San Diego home in 1985. Authorities had suspected Frediani of the crime, but had not had enough evidence to convict him.

Frank Lee Smith

Frank Lee Smith - AP Photo
In what is thought to be the first case in which posthumous DNA testing proved a man's innocence, Frank Lee Smith was cleared of the rape and murder of an 8-year-old Florida girl. Smith died of cancer on Jan. 30, 2000. Eleven months later he was cleared of the charges. He had served 14 years on death row for the 1985 murder of Shandra Whitehead. Smith's DNA was found not to match evidence found on the body of the murdered girl.

Shortly after Smith's exoneration, Florida Governor Jeb Bush said that he advocated DNA testing on other condemned Florida inmates.

Ronald Cotton

Ronald Cotton - AP Photo
In 1985, Jennifer Thompson, a college student from North Carolina, sat on the witness stand and testified confidently that Ronald Cotton was the man who raped her. Based on Thompson's testimony, the jury convicted Cotton. He was sentenced him to life in prison.

After spending 11 years in jail, Cotton was exonerated through DNA evidence taken from the crime scene. Thompson's guilt over putting an innocent man behind bars led her to seek out Cotton. After an emotional first meeting, the two say they have developed a friendship.

Earl Washington Jr.

Earl Washington Jr. - AP Photo
In 1982, Earl Washington Jr., a mentally retarded man, was sentenced to death for the rape and slaying of Rebecca Lynn Williams in Culpepper, Va.

Washington, now 40, came within nine days of being executed in 1985, but was granted a stay. In 1993, DNA testing cast serious doubt on his guilt. His sentence was commuted to life in prison. Another, more sophisticated test was done last year, and cleared Washington of the crime. He received a Governor's pardon in October of 2000. He is now free.

(And people wonder why this forum insists on a greater standard of guilt than the lynch-mob mentality requires. Whew! Scary!)

Not to mention that the "controlled" environment of a prison usually means an "uncontrolled" environment, equivalent to what the world would be if only criminals were in the world: constant rapes, beatings, constant threats, theft, forced prostitution, murders, a hierarchy that is essentially like that of gorillas, etc. Snakes on every ward, and if you are you are the weakest/smallest mammal, you WILL be eaten. In prisons, there are not enough honorable guards to keep the prisoners safe, or even to keep themselves safe. Guards are required to use the least harmful means to control prisoners.

And because guards have used abusive practices in the past to try to keep control in prisons, there have been a number of judicial rulings to protect prisoners, which just makes the job for the guards at under-funded prisons even that much harder. Then when a prisoner escapes, everybody hollers, "why are the staff at the prisons not doing their jobs!!!???"

I have known a couple prison guards. I belive the ones I have known are honorable men. But the problems in the prison system are more than a few good men can make right. Prison is hell, both for the prisoners, and unfortunately, too often, for the good men and women who keep the prisoners away from society. I'm not sure if the general public wants it to be that way for the prisoners. But I'm clear that we need to do more to make prisons safer and saner for both guards and prisoners.

Were those skin particles dated?
Had she used a toilet that day?
Had her underwear been properly laundered?
Had she exchanged underwear with a friend?
Had she washed her hands that day?

No. Ofcourse I don't want answers to these ridiculous questions, I'm only repeating what is posted elsewhere about skin particles under JonBenet's fingernails.