Posted on 09/06/2009 6:33:51 AM PDT by deport
Wrongly convicted Texans become instant millionaires
New law makes Texas most generous state for payments to cleared prisoners.
DALLAS — Thomas McGowan's journey from prison to prosperity is about to culminate in $1.8 million, and he knows just how to spend it: on a house with three bedrooms, stainless steel kitchen appliances and a washer and dryer.
"I'll let my girlfriend pick out the rest," said McGowan, who was exonerated last year based on DNA evidence after spending nearly 23 years in prison for rape and robbery.
He and other exonerees in Texas, which leads the nation in freeing the wrongly convicted, soon will become millionaires under a new state law that took effect this week.
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Exonerees will get $80,000 for each year they spent behind bars. The compensation also includes lifetime annuity payments that for most of the wrongly convicted are worth between $40,000 and $50,000 a year — making it by far the nation's most generous package.
McGowan and the others are among 38 DNA exonerees in Texas, according to the Innocence Project, a New York legal center that specializes in overturning wrongful convictions. Dallas County alone has 21 cases in which a judge overturned guilty verdicts based on DNA evidence, though prosecutors plan to retry one of those.
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End snips
Does Texas have the highest rate because they are trying to do the most justice (that is, with the greatest number of death penalties too) or is it because their justice system is the most defective, and therefore, there are the most provably innocent people behind bars?
Texas might be advised to take a hard look at their prosecutors and judges over the last twenty years or more.
$1.8 million is not nearly enough for 23 years of a man’s life. I don’t know that any amount of money can make up for losing your freedom, not to mention your reputation and respect and a third of your lifetime.
"Texas is a Third-World hellhole."
Cheers!
I would normally oppose this kind of government largesse, but considering what prison is and considering that when you go your life is pretty much ruined I do think this is an equitable solution. Especially this guy. He spent 23 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. There is no way that he will get that time back or his economic value back. Now I think that we should be executing a lot more people than we do but when they do make a mistake like this you know, there should be restitution.
No it isn't.
Which ones?
Maybe we should ask Tom DeLay.
Don't judge it until you have lived here.
And yes, Texas works to implement swift justice.
Dallas/Fort Worth is a major metropolitan area; unfortunately, not unlike several other major metropolitan areas, we've had to deal with "dirty cops." A bunch of convictions were overturned because of dirty cops in Dallas, who were later discovered and ejected from the force.
I take it you’ve never been lost in Houston?
If Texas ia Third-World hellhole, what the H is South Africa, a concentation camp?
Texas might be advised to take a hard look at their prosecutors and judges over the last twenty years or more.
According to the article Dallas County leads with 21 conviction overturns. That’s a lot and should be examined in detail, imo.
I once sat on a jury looking at a 3rd time conviction for a person on a drug charge. The DAs office presented the most inept case all in trying to get the person sent away. It didn’t take the jury more than a few moments to throw the DA’s case.
There's any number of ways to manufacture evidence to frame yourself along with hidden proof you didn't do it all in pursuit of $80k a year.
A convict that can't get a job can set himself up to do prison time, later provide “suddenly discovered” proof he didn't do it and collect.
I didn't read the article so if there are protections against this the scratch my comments, but I don't know you would be able to prevent it.
The Republic of Texas
I lived there for 26 years. Granted, parts of ANY big city resemble a 3rd World Hellhole, but saying the entire state is such is a preposterous and uninformed statement to make.
One thing they CAN'T repay is a life, thats why I usually oppose the death penalty.
Even though these roads were very lightly travelled, we were both highly impressed at the way the country folks out in the boonies would often have a dozen American Flags lining their laneways or porches......true Americana.
In followup to previous repliers, I might suggest to let your friend espouse his own views on such a personal issue
That may well be the dumbest post i have ever read here. Are you really suggesting that someone would voluntarily spend 20-plus years in prison in exchange for $80K a year plus a one time lump sum?
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