We Were Jailed For Crimes We Didn't Commit. What Does Society Owe Us?

Overview

• Author: Jamal Trulove
• Date: November 27, 2019
• Published by: BuzzFeed News
• Main Argument: Innocent individuals who are wrongfully convicted deserve more than just their freedom upon exoneration; there's a need for societal and systemic support to help rebuild their shattered lives.

Key Points

Wrongful Convictions

• Statistics and Impact:
  • Over 2,515 people exonerated since 1989.
  • Innocent individuals have lost over 22,315 years of their lives.
  • $4.12 billion spent by taxpayers incarcerating innocent people.

Baltimore Exonerations

• Case Example: Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, and Andrew Stewart spent 36 years in prison due to a flawed investigation.
  • Police coerced child witnesses.
  • Prosecutors hid exculpatory evidence.

Author's Experience

• Jamal Trulove was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for seven years.
• His case was overturned due to prosecutorial misconduct.

Challenges Upon Release

• Exonerees face numerous challenges:
  • Lack of housing, job prospects, and skills.
  • Post-traumatic stress from wrongful imprisonment.
  • Absence of family support or social networks.
• Lack of immediate support services like ID, social security, and financial resources.

Systemic Reforms

• Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs):

  • Efforts by district attorneys like Marilyn Mosby in Baltimore to address wrongful convictions.
  • The establishment of units dedicated to reviewing past convictions.

• Programs and Legislation:

  • Baltimore's Resurrection After Exoneration program to provide support services.
  • Calls for standardized compensation for the wrongfully convicted, similar to Texas' $80,000 annual compensation.
  • Advocacy for legislation to support exonerees in Maryland and beyond.

Author's Advocacy

• Jamal Trulove actively campaigns for fair treatment of wrongfully convicted individuals.
• Emphasizes the importance of mental and physical health services, education, and work integration post-exoneration.

Conclusion

• While freedom is a fundamental right, it is insufficient to restore the lives of those wrongfully convicted.
• There is a moral and societal obligation to provide comprehensive support to rebuild the lives of exonerees.

Additional Information

• Jamal Trulove's personal journey from wrongful conviction to advocacy provides a powerful narrative of resilience and demand for justice system reform.
• Trulove's legal victory against San Francisco police resulted in a $13.1 million settlement.