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Well, it did take 7 years from the time the prosecutor was asked for a DNA test to the time when the test was conducted and he was released. There is no doubt that the prosecutor stonewalled. He should be at least compensated for that last 7 years.

The guy has spent a loooong time in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He probably didn't learn many job skills or people skills in prison. (asbestos suit now on) Society owes it to him to help him get some education and get back on his feet. It is the right and compassionate thing to do.

No offence intended , Diver, but see my post 17.

Well, it did take 7 years from the time the prosecutor was asked for a DNA test to the time when the test was conducted and he was released. There is no doubt that the prosecutor stonewalled. He should be at least compensated for that last 7 years.

I'm not sure it's that cut-and-dried. If it's because they had a million DNA requests and were just swamped, then I wouldn't consider that stonewalling. If they got a request and just round-filed it without even considering it, then I'd think that constitutes stonewalling, sure. And I'm not sure about the timeline in any case - it says he contacted Scheck seven years ago, not made a DNA testing request to the prosecutor. I'm sure Barry Scheck takes some time to decide whether or not he's going to take the case or not, so we don't really know how long the prosector has been aware of this.

The other thing is that he doesn't necessarily have to rely on the prosecutor to exonerate him. DNA testing isn't all that expensive anymore, and he could certainly have arranged to have testing done at his own expense, I'm sure.

I just don't know. It's a tough case all around....

Well, it did take 7 years from the time the prosecutor was asked for a DNA test to the time when the test was conducted and he was released. There is no doubt that the prosecutor stonewalled. He should be at least compensated for that last 7 years.

Missouri enacted a law last year lets convicted rapists seek new DNA tests if the technology was not available when they were tried. Mr. Johnson is the second person to be tested under this new law.

"Society owes it to him to help him get some education and get back on his feet. It is the right and compassionate thing to do."

I would agree. They could send him to school or give him a job working for the state. Even if they gave him a job as a janitor, he'd be making pretty darn good money and have good benefits.