District attorney creates unit to review past convictions

Published September 2, 2021 1:23 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland criminal defense attorney has joined the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to head a new unit that will examine wrongful convictions and review prison sentences. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports District Attorney Mike Schmidt said Wednesday he has set aside $524,000 to staff the Justice Integrity Unit. Schmidt says Ernest Warren will lead the division and noted that Warren founded the first Black-owned defense law firm in Oregon. Warren will oversee one deputy district attorney and will earn about $203,000 a year. Multnomah County joins a half-dozen other city prosecutors’ offices in setting up a sentencing review unit and another 90 that have conviction integrity units.

Article Topic Follows: AP - Oregon-Northwest

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