Our packed prisons are starting to disgorge hundreds of mostly African-America men who, over the last few decades, we wrongly convicted of violent crimes. This is what it's like to spend nearly thirty years in prison for something you didn't do. This is what it's like to spend nearly thirty years as someone you aren't. And for Ray Towler, this is what it's like to be free.
Very well written story. I can't even imagine just losing 1/3 of your entire life like that. I guess he doesn't look at it that way, but in a way it is. How somebody doesn't just melt into a mess of anger astounds me.
Kinda makes you wonder how many people ended up like him before we started using DNA.
Hundreds, if not thousands have been wrongly convicted by over-agressive prosecutors and judges based on wishy-washy evidence. Only a few dozen have been freed or their convictions overturned. It's one of the great shames of the American Justice system.
Hundreds, if not thousands have been wrongly convicted by over-agressive prosecutors and judges based on wishy-washy evidence. Only a few dozen have been freed or their convictions overturned. It's one of the great shames of the American Justice system.
probably a great example of voting for judges, DA and Sheriff.
wow - I hate reading stories like that. I feel so bad for him.. I hope he gets a huge payout. How do they usually determine how much a person gets in compensation for something like that??
Hundreds, if not thousands have been wrongly convicted by over-agressive prosecutors and judges based on wishy-washy evidence. Only a few dozen have been freed or their convictions overturned. It's one of the great shames of the American Justice system.
I was just watching some video's on youtube and this guy got released after 35 years.
According to the video he was the 248th person in the US to be released because of DNA evidence. That number is probably higher now.
wow - I hate reading stories like that. I feel so bad for him.. I hope he gets a huge payout. How do they usually determine how much a person gets in compensation for something like that??
In the video I just posted it says that in Florida former inmates that are found innocent are entitled to $50000 per year they served. The guy in the video is entitled to 1.75 million.
In the video I just posted it says that in Florida former inmates that are found innocent are entitled to $50000 per year they served. The guy in the video is entitled to 1.75 million.
Good - I hope he buys a big bag of Charlie Sheen and has a good time!!
The esquire article had $40k a year minimum in ohio.
And anything else he can get after suing for lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. (which he does intend to go after). He should be in line for quite a payout.
And anything else he can get after suing for lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. (which he does intend to go after). He should be in line for quite a payout.
He'll get millions. He was in jail for child molestation from aged 24 until basically he was an old man. No amount of money would make up for that.
He'll get millions. He was in jail for child molestation from aged 24 until basically he was an old man. No amount of money would make up for that.
Well, I guess it's a question of how much there is to give. I don't know how his case for lost wages would work out. He's to get $40-$50,000/year while he was in jail. That's a pretty good wage.
But for the pain and suffering, mental anguish and the lot...he's got a really solid case. And you are right, how can money make that up? Going to be interesting to see how this turns out for him.
Sometimes I wonder back then if the people on the jury realize what they're doing. Convicting someone to life in prison on sketchy evidence...
As mentioned in the article... "Our packed prisons are starting to disgorge hundreds of mostly African-America men who, over the last few decades, we wrongly convicted of violent crimes."
Back then, like in Towler's case, if you were black, you already had the odds against you.
Convicted Rapist Freed After 27 Years
