Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Wrongly convicted Texans become instant millionaires
AP via American Statesman ^ | Sept. 5, 2009 | Jeff Carlton

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.

.........

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.

.........
End snips



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: innocenceproject; prison; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last

1 posted on 09/06/2009 6:33:52 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: deport

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?


2 posted on 09/06/2009 6:37:03 AM PDT by coloradan (The US has become a banana republic, except without the bananas - or the republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deport
Texas, which leads the nation in freeing the wrongly convicted,

Texas might be advised to take a hard look at their prosecutors and judges over the last twenty years or more.

3 posted on 09/06/2009 6:37:32 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deport

$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.


4 posted on 09/06/2009 6:38:12 AM PDT by Roklok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: coloradan
It's because (as a co-worker from South Africa, who has worked in Texas) told me,

"Texas is a Third-World hellhole."

Cheers!

5 posted on 09/06/2009 6:38:40 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: deport

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.


6 posted on 09/06/2009 6:38:53 AM PDT by AzaleaCity5691
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers
"Texas is a Third-World hellhole."

No it isn't.

7 posted on 09/06/2009 6:46:54 AM PDT by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard

Which ones?


8 posted on 09/06/2009 6:47:29 AM PDT by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: coloradan

Maybe we should ask Tom DeLay.


9 posted on 09/06/2009 6:48:00 AM PDT by tiki (True Christians will not deliberately slander or misrepresent others or their beliefs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers
Texas is a beautiful State. My husband and I couldn't get here fast enough.

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.

10 posted on 09/06/2009 6:50:10 AM PDT by TheWriterTX (Proud Retrosexual Wife of 16 Years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: cweese

I take it you’ve never been lost in Houston?


11 posted on 09/06/2009 6:50:52 AM PDT by AzaleaCity5691
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

If Texas ia Third-World hellhole, what the H is South Africa, a concentation camp?


12 posted on 09/06/2009 6:51:45 AM PDT by BilLies
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: hinckley buzzard

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.


13 posted on 09/06/2009 6:55:03 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: deport
This is a stupid move.

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.

14 posted on 09/06/2009 6:55:16 AM PDT by DB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BilLies

The Republic of Texas


15 posted on 09/06/2009 6:55:32 AM PDT by yazdankurd (fortis fortuna adiuvat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AzaleaCity5691

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.


16 posted on 09/06/2009 6:55:37 AM PDT by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: deport
Its fair, I mean, there is NO WAY to repay a wrongfully accused man who has spent many years in prison for something he didn't do, but its better than nothing, alot better.

One thing they CAN'T repay is a life, thats why I usually oppose the death penalty.

17 posted on 09/06/2009 6:56:31 AM PDT by Paradox (ObamaCare = Logan's Run ; There is no Sanctuary!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cweese
It happened to be Memorial Day when wifey and I left our friends in Conroe - on a cross country driving trip - and proceeded via back roads on through Beaumont.

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.

18 posted on 09/06/2009 7:01:07 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (It's not an Obama "Administration"....it's a "Regime")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: grey_whiskers

In followup to previous repliers, I might suggest to let your friend espouse his own views on such a personal issue


19 posted on 09/06/2009 7:06:07 AM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out ( <<< click my name: now featuring Freeper classifieds .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DB
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.

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?

20 posted on 09/06/2009 7:12:08 AM PDT by jdub (A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-118 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson