On my first day of high school, I was told by the principal that this was the most crucial day of my high school career. This was the day where I would make lasting impressions on those around me, which would form the foundation for my reputation. The weight that a reputation holds truly cannot be recognized until learning of the tragic case involving Gregory Allen, Penny Beernsten, and Steven Avery.
After watching Making a Murderer on Netflix, it was abundantly clear that Steven Avery was doomed from the start. Avery’s reputation followed him around like a dark cloud, and was ultimately the factor that resulted in his incrimination. If Avery and his family had fit into the community, if they had been wealthy, if they had been well-rounded, I find it unlikely that he would have been considered a suspect to begin with. It appeared from the episode that the town and police force were looking for a scapegoat, and Avery was the most obvious (and simplest) solution.
Innocent people are still incriminated to this day for crimes they did not commit. Thankfully, advancements in technology have helped exonerate thousands of individuals. Albeit, in Steven Avery’s case, the police force was working double time to ensure the local troublemaker was locked up– for good this time. Their previous bias cost an innocent man eighteen years of his life.
If Judy Dvorak had not put the idea into the head of Penny Beernsten that Avery was the most likely suspect for this case, I don’t believe this case would have spiraled as out of control as it did. When a composite photo of Avery was shown to Beernsten, she remembered his face when she saw him in the lineup, and left her unable to differentiate between her attacker, and the man she had previously seen in the image.
This informational influence impacted Penny Beersten’s memory so she could no longer remember who her true attacker was. It is clear that Beernsten fell victim to suggestibility after the interactions she had with members of the police force. These factors all contributed to the inaccurate testimony that landed Avery in prison.
Thankfully, as technology advances, crimes are becoming easier and easier to solve. However, it is still terrifying to think that criminals prowl the streets at night, while innocent people rot in jail cells for crimes they did not commit. (398)
I liked how you mentioned the idea of reputation. I too, on my first day of high school was told that the decisions I made would have a lasting impact on my life. From the beginning of this trial, it was clear that Avery did not have the best reputation in town and they used that and ran with it. I agree with you that if they had been a picture-perfect family in town, the case would have had an entirely different outcome which is very sad to think about.