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I'm torn about this. Yes, what happened to him was an awful injustice, but I can't see compensating him unless there was real wrongdoing on the part of someone in the system - the police, the prosecutor, the judge, or maybe the jury. If everyone did their job the way they were supposed to, and nobody made any egregiously stupid mistakes or intentionally framed him, I have to file this one under the heading of "tough luck". I know that sounds sh*tty, but where do you draw the line? Sometimes bad things happen and it's nobody's fault - that's life.

If, on the other hand, it turns out that he really was framed, or someone did something so obscenely stupid as to be culpable for his conviction, then I say more power to him - I hope he collects a boatload of money for the time he lost. But otherwise, them's the breaks...

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.

"Johnson is a former Marine who was paroled in 1982 after serving about half of a 15-year sentence in the rape, robbery and assault of the wife of a Marine staff sergeant while stationed in Japan."

Have you ever seen a media report where the "poor innocent's" prior felony convictions are revealed? Of course, not! These people are always as pure as the driven snow, to hear the media tell it! The emphasis is always on how unjust and oppressive the "system" is!

I'm torn about this. Yes, what happened to him was an awful injustice, but I can't see compensating him unless there was real wrongdoing on the part of someone in the system - the police, the prosecutor, the judge, or maybe the jury. If everyone did their job the way they were supposed to, and nobody made any egregiously stupid mistakes or intentionally framed him, I have to file this one under the heading of "tough luck". I know that sounds sh*tty, but where do you draw the line? Sometimes bad things happen and it's nobody's fault - that's life.

If you injure or damage someone else, or their property, you are morally and legally liable to fully and completely compensate them for that damage. Whether you may have acted intentionally, maliciously, recklessly, egregiously, unreasonably, incompentently, without due diligence, imprudently or negligently makes no difference. Negligence/recklessness entitles the victim to punitive damages, and willfulness/maliciousness makes you subject to criminal sanction. But you are obligated to compensate those whom you damage, no matter your excuses.