release of Texas man from prison (Full Version)

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drussell52 -> release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 9:53:04 AM)

Hi, I did a little digging on line for the story reported on ABC radio news this morning, 04/30, about the 55-year-old Texan man, released from prsion after DNA evidence turned his conviction for a crime not committed by him, occurring 25+ years ago. Wow. Evidently this has occurred for others in the Texas CJ system. Being a person of faith, how would one move forward with life instead of giving into temptation to "get even" with someone, anyone, everyone? Personally thankful for my freedoms as one who is continually being saved by God's favor through trust in Him. My being feels for this man and others like him!



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 9:58:49 AM)

Thank God for a system that can do this. It makes you wonder how many innocent men were put away by some overzealous DA. I am sure the Justice Dept. is really in no hurry to find out.



stellaluna -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 10:10:17 AM)

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 10:21:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.


I know that in CA a system like this has been implemented and there has been a number of people freed with an apology from the DA's office. I guess an apology makes it all better. [:D]



stellaluna -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 10:46:13 AM)

I'm glad California has that. I'm in Texas, which is probably enough said. [;)]



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:13:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I'm glad California has that. I'm in Texas, which is probably enough said. [;)]


Hang 'Em High![;)]



rcjames -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:17:05 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.


I know that in CA a system like this has been implemented and there has been a number of people freed with an apology from the DA's office. I guess an apology makes it all better. [:D]


Well the apology and the ensuing millions from the wrongful conviction suit.

Thanks
RC



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:20:23 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.


I know that in CA a system like this has been implemented and there has been a number of people freed with an apology from the DA's office. I guess an apology makes it all better. [:D]


Well the apology and the ensuing millions from the wrongful conviction suit.

Thanks
RC

Who gets sued? Where does the money come from?

(These are real questions, by the way.)



stellaluna -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:39:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy
Who gets sued? Where does the money come from?

The government--state, county, local, wherever. Therefore, taxpayers pay for it if the inmate wins.



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:42:08 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.


I know that in CA a system like this has been implemented and there has been a number of people freed with an apology from the DA's office. I guess an apology makes it all better. [:D]


Well the apology and the ensuing millions from the wrongful conviction suit.

Thanks
RC

Who gets sued? Where does the money come from?

(These are real questions, by the way.)


The state gets sued. The taxpayers pay for the state's screw up.



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:45:23 AM)

I can't help feeling there should be some kind of compensation. The man lost 25 years of this life, and there's just no getting that back. I don't know. This issue has bugged me for a long time. There's really no answer, is there?



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:49:31 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13

quote:

ORIGINAL: stellaluna

I personally believe every case on death row should be examined to see if advances in DNA technology can be used to confirm case findings.


I know that in CA a system like this has been implemented and there has been a number of people freed with an apology from the DA's office. I guess an apology makes it all better. [:D]


Well the apology and the ensuing millions from the wrongful conviction suit.

Thanks
RC

Who gets sued? Where does the money come from?

(These are real questions, by the way.)


The state gets sued. The taxpayers pay for the state's screw up.

Since there was no "DNA" evidence 25 years ago, could you really call it the state's screw up though? At the time, the evidence was, I'm sure, right on.



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:54:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy

I can't help feeling there should be some kind of compensation. The man lost 25 years of this life, and there's just no getting that back. I don't know. This issue has bugged me for a long time. There's really no answer, is there?


If what you've described here isn't a screw-up (they got the wrong man, didn't they) then I don't know what is. Most of the time it's overzealous prosecutors looking for another conviction.



drussell52 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 11:57:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy

I can't help feeling there should be some kind of compensation. The man lost 25 years of this life, and there's just no getting that back. I don't know. This issue has bugged me for a long time. There's really no answer, is there?

Pammy, agree with you which is the sentiment that has been rolling around in my mind since hearing this story, actually he was behind bars for 28 years to be specific. What the radio report failed to convey was he had a defense team working for him, cannot recall particulars of that. My wife who works in mental health observed, he gets released with 2 aspirin, probably $50 and a couple condoms and told to have a nice life. Her hope was he would get counseling to "move forward." I think housingand some kind of basic care should be provided him the rest of his life and the funds in part come from the "slap-happy" prosecutors who evidently were to quick to secure justice. It's a darn shame stuff like this occurs. Not happy over this one folks!



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 12:25:04 PM)

David, thank you so much for posting this thread. I'm so glad I happened to see it there in the list of "posts since last visit" and wandered over here.

Here is a link to the story on CNN.

And here is a link to "The Innocence Project".



kernsfamily -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 4:07:59 PM)

I live in Dallas, where this has been occurring....this man was the 17th person found "not guilty" (some had been imprisoned for a few years, others decades), in JUST Dallas County, alone.

Financial compensation? Here in Texas:
A wrongfully convicted person is entitled to $50,000 per year of wrongful incarceration (and $100,000 per year if that person was sentenced to death), compensation for child support payments, and one year of counseling.
Each state handles this differently. Some states, I believe, have NO compensation system in place.

Still, I can't ever see getting my life back to "Square 1" after such an ordeal.

Sue? Sue who? It's a jury that determined "Guilty"....realistically, being in the "wrong place, at the wrong time", and other factors, it could happen to ANYONE, really....I could simply be here at the office "at the wrong time", and be a "victim" like this guy.
I THINK in cases like this, filing a suit is either very difficult, or not allowed by law....not sure....probably depends on the state....but, primarily on the circumstances. Was any evidence withheld? Tampered with? Or any other "wrong doing" by the prosecution? That seems to be part of the issue with this particular case.....With others, unfortunately, the "wrong man" was just "found guilty". Period. No wrong doing...and the jurors just made the best decision they could with the information they had at the time.

Along the same lines, look at what happens to individuals who have been merely "accused" of sexual abuse crimes....teachers, an "estranged" spouse.....and, then, perhaps a year later, the "story" is recanted, and is found out to be a LIE. (Happens very frequently)....those people are NEVER "convicted" of anything, but, how many people are sitting there "wondering" if, perhaps, he really DID do "something"....he's never looked at the same again....ever.....even though he did nothing wrong....but, was just accused by someone who "had a grudge".....their faces had been plastered all over TV as being "accused" (which, in today's society with crimes like that, is an automatic assumption of GUILTY)....but, when exoneration comes, no one is there to report that.

The case will be featured on 60 Minutes in the near future, too....so, keep an eye out for that.



agapetos -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 4:59:29 PM)

I suspect that it will be easier for him to deal with getting his life back than it will be for this lady.



vixir -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (4/30/2008 5:00:59 PM)

Yeah, I read this yesterday. It was really sad! I'm glad he got out, but it's just upsetting to know that he wasted so much of his life in prison for a crime that he didn't commit. If I were him I would feel so thankful that I was released, but I would also be very angry at the system. Because not only did an innocent man go to prison, but the killer has been out there until just recently. That's disturbing...



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/1/2008 7:11:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

I suspect that it will be easier for him to deal with getting his life back than it will be for this lady.

Oh my . . . I'm just speechless. . .



.Pammy -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/1/2008 7:12:29 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: vixir

Yeah, I read this yesterday. It was really sad! I'm glad he got out, but it's just upsetting to know that he wasted so much of his life in prison for a crime that he didn't commit. If I were him I would feel so thankful that I was released, but I would also be very angry at the system. Because not only did an innocent man go to prison, but the killer has been out there until just recently. That's disturbing...

Do you mean that they've caught the real killer? I didn't see that.



SonInMe1 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/1/2008 8:52:25 AM)

The bible says to turn the other cheek. I am sure that is a lot easier said then done.

If he is entitled to compensation then should the state be reimbursed for the food and lodgings for 25 years too?



kernsfamily -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/1/2008 9:05:51 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

The bible says to turn the other cheek. I am sure that is a lot easier said then done.

If he is entitled to compensation then should the state be reimbursed for the food and lodgings for 25 years too?


You're asking the question as if the guy spent the last 25 years living at The Greenbrier....



mapachito13 -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/1/2008 9:30:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

The bible says to turn the other cheek. I am sure that is a lot easier said then done.

If he is entitled to compensation then should the state be reimbursed for the food and lodgings for 25 years too?


Your sensitivity to this man's plight is breaking me up! [sm=crystreams.gif]



vixir -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/5/2008 6:11:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: .Pammy
Do you mean that they've caught the real killer? I didn't see that.


No, sorry... I just assumed so. lol... But somehow I managed to miss this part of the article -- "It gives me that resolve to go even further to find out who (the killer) is so that we can get him into custody."


My bad!



tracydolls -> RE: release of Texas man from prison (5/5/2008 6:25:13 PM)

quote:

released from prsion after DNA evidence turned his conviction for a crime not committed by him, occurring 25+ years ago.



They have so many of these cases, it's sad. I think every case has to be looked at. Now. Some monies should be compensated. at least enough to get started. What do you put on a job application, for job history, ahhhh making 25 cents a day moping bathrooms in prison for 25 years. Call the warden for a reference?



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