Real bad guys: Officials can learn something from Dwayne Dail case

There is no amount of money that can give Dwayne Dail his life back.

So, even though the state has awarded him more than $350,000 to get his life started again, it is not enough, really, to make him forget what he has lost.

But there is something good that could come out of the Dail case — and not just that the right man will go to jail for the rape crime.

Dail has already told his story around the country — and probably will do more of that in the coming years.

And every time he does, one more investigator, prosecutor or judge will remember what an awesome responsibility he or she holds in his or her hands.

The blame for the Dail case is hard to place. Justice does not always prevail, even when there are the best of intentions.

But this case and others like it are the reason so many people are working so hard to come up with more tests, more procedures and more ways to make sure the innocent go free and the guilty get what they deserve.

Dail’s story will move out of the headlines soon. They always do. Let’s hope the lessons we have learned from this case stay with us a long time.

Published in Editorials on January 24, 2008 11:07 AM