Final answer:
The primary cause of wrongful convictions in the largest number of cases is eyewitness misidentification, with the Innocence Project highlighting the importance of DNA evidence in exoneration and the fragility of human memory in testimony.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leading cause of wrongful convictions in cases where innocent people have been exonerated by DNA evidence is eyewitness misidentification. Studies, including those conducted by the Innocence Project, have revealed that the unreliability of eyewitness accounts is a significant factor in these miscarriages of justice. In the context of the criminal justice system, courts heavily rely on eyewitness identification and testimony, which can be compromised by many factors, including the suggestibility of memory, misinterpretation of events, and the influence of external pressures or bias.
Misidentifications by eyewitnesses can occur due to the fragility of human memory and the process of memory reconstruction, which is susceptible to suggestion and distortion over time. The work of the Innocence Project, which focuses on using DNA evidence to overturn wrongful convictions, underscores the impact of faulty eyewitness testimony, emphasizing the need for improved procedures and awareness within the justice system to prevent such errors.