The Richardson Case

The Richardson case was recommended to be dismissed by Assistant County Prosecutor

Adam Dow. In the past month, six people were robbed while they drew money out of an ATM

machine. Richardson does have a prior record for robbery, and a victim did point him out in a

lineup. However, the victim was very uncertain in doing so, and the quality of the ATM camera

is grainy and is difficult to decipher if it really was Richardson. Because of these facts, Dow was

hesitant to press charges in light that Richardson might be innocent. Dows' boss, County

Prosecutor Susan Graham felt otherwise. Graham did not want to dismiss the charges. There was

enough evidence to take to trial, and at the very least, the community will settle down because

they are taking action.

It is sometimes difficult to take your emotions out of a case, but Dow needs to.

Richardson needs to be charged in accordance to the facts. It is not in the job description of a

prosecutor to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent. A prosecutor decides what the

accused is charged with. The judge and/or jury will decide if the accused is guilty or not. It is

possible an innocent person could be convicted, but it isn't common. Dow should take the

communities' feelings into consideration. Take into consideration if Richardson was guilty, but

Dow dismissed the charges in lieu of lack of evidence. Another robbery was made, but this time,

someone was killed. The community will be even more upset, and the responsibility would fall

on Dow because, in their eyes, he shouldn't have let Richardson go. It is sometimes difficult to

take your emotions out of a case, but for this one, Dow needs to. Richardson needs to be charged

in accordance to the facts and evidence against him. The judge and jury will decide Richardson's

fate from that point on.

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