"It might occur everywhere in the country, but it happens far too much in North Carolina. I have never seen a state with such a corrupt system."
And you are basing this statement on what outside of Durham County and a close study of what other states? Or are you just spouting off based on the Duke case with little to no outside information?
I am speaking of personal experience in North Carolina compared to California, Florida, Texas and Virginia where I have seen much more fairness.
I know several people who have experienced similar treatment as the Duke students, but they didn't have the resources to fight it. Several were out thousands of dollars, one went to prison, and one fought a civil case for 5 years before it was finally tossed out.
In North Carolina, any idiot can go down to the local Magistrate and swear out a false complaint with little (if any) legal exposure.
You seem somewhat defensive about the North Carolina justice system. Are you a law enforcement officer, judge, or prosecutor?
Did you know that if you get a major violation in North Carolina (example: 80mph in a 55mph zone) that you can get a private attorney, give him $400 cash, and he can get it changed to a "fix-it" ticket so no violation shows up on your DMV records? Does that sound like a clean system to you? Who do you think that lawyer shares the $400 with?