United States of America
Seen in the press
Read our selection of press reports about this country.
USA: innocent until proven guilty, but only if you can pay
How America’s bail system traps poor people in jail. “I did something stupid, and something I shouldn’t have done” are the first words of Bill Peyser’s tale of how he ended up getting arrested and jailed for the first time in his life at the age of 73.
USA: jurors thought a gay man would enjoy prison. They sent him to death row instead
“It was pretty glaring that there was some anti-gay bias going on in the jury room.” Rhines was convicted of murdering Schaeffer the following year and sentenced to death. But lawyers appointed to handle his case say that the sentence was tainted and should be overturned.