Stories like this one, about a Florida man who was freed today after spending 35 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, drive me crazy. James Bain was sentenced to life at the age of 19 after being convicted for the kidnapping and rape of a nine-year-old boy; DNA evidence proved that he was not involved. I cannot imagine what he endured in jail, how his family has suffered for the past three-and-a-half decades, or, really, any of it. Beyond the nightmarish aspects, it's the small details that really stick: "The 54-year-old said he looks forward to eating fried turkey and drinking Dr. Pepper. He said he also hopes to go back to school."
"No, I'm not angry," he said. "Because I've got God." He was 19!
"You're a free man. Congratulations."
SERIOUSLY
Is there ever any kind of compensation for these people? Can they sue? Or is it just, "let's release this previously regular innocent citizen who's been toughened up and exposed to the worst elements of society back into society when ostensibly he has no skills"?
Also, fried turkey and Dr. Pepper? I'd be looking for the prosecutor or cops who put me away...
Yes, actually, I believe that's what he meant by "fried Turkey and Dr. Pepper."
Assistant District Attorney Deborah Turkey and Medical Examiner Dr. David Pepper are being placed in protective custody as we speak.
Millions. A former colleague represented a guy who was falsely conflicted of rape and murder in a case that was so bad the prosecutors were eventually indicted for misconduct. The resulting civil case for false imprisonment & Section 1983 civil rights violations resulted in the largest verdict against the State for $30+ million.
You mean they didn't execute him!? Fan-freakin-tastic.
Also, I would like to know HOW the judicial system can just THROW OUT a request for DNA testing?
Barry Scheck's penance frees another man. IP is one of my favorite organizations in the world.
It's weird to think, but the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman have bought back the lives of scores of innocent people.
"As parting gifts, he was awarded a gold-embossed file and a specially-commissioned chocolate bar of soap from Fannie Farmer. The prison band played 'I Fought The Law' as he left the gate, under a giant banner reading, 'OOPS!!'"
But did he get a copy of the home game?
Whoa, I don't know about the "going back to school" part. We should think this through first. It's not fair to the other kids who may not have Applied Shiv-making experience. Also, what's to keep him from simply walking out of detention?
Hi guys, usually a lurker here. I did a little digging abut restitution for wrongly convicted peoples in the US. According to the Innocence Project's website, Florida passed a Universal Restitution Statute for wrongly convicted people in 2008. They also say 27 states have some form, leaving 23 that give a crap. For the fun of it, Florida's lotto is currently at 13 million. I wonder how much Mr. Bain is entitled to from the state.
More here:
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/309.php
My wingnut mother has a conspiracy theory that people who were wrongly convicted of a crime somehow did it on purpose, for the restitution, which is the same thing as welfare. "They've never had it better." "But he spent 35 years in jail!" "So? He didn't have to work."
My mother wonders why I don't visit.
Guess she just really hates her job.
Holy shit, Your mother sounds like a divine human being...
The Innocence Project is definitely doing God's work. Seriously, though, Florida should be sure to send over that 2-legged dog to cheer him up ... I mean, that little guy is inspirational.
Once my father accused me of eating all the maraschino cherries out of the jar when I hadn't and he smacked me good. 20yrs later my sister finally admitted it was her, and she was sorry she let me fry. Thank god that is the closest I can come to feeling what this poor dude went through.
FL frequently fights the release of prisoners that DNA has exonerated, arguing fantastical things like, Yes, we know Jim Smith's DNA is nowhere on the victim, but Steve White's is, but that doesn't mean that Smith didn't rape her using a condom right after White did! Or maybe White is the only one who raped her, but Smith killed her right after!
Without clicking on the story, I'm guessing an eye witness was involved here. And perhaps a forced confession.
Yes, the victim described a man with bushy sideburns and a mustache (which in 1974 probably described every male 18-35 years old in America).
I bet he had both of his arms too.
History says, Don't hope
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
the longed for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.
FOX News is running this headline:
DNA Exonerates Inmate After Serving 35 Years for Kidnapping, Rape
Couldn't we just toss in ONE "wrongfully accused" for good measure here, FOXy?
fucking sentient gaseous clouds.
No.
I also saw that frcking illiterate headline. Good lord I mean even FOX News can hire an English-speaking online editor or would that be too hard?
so he gets to collect his 35 years back when he leaves, right?
I wonder if receiving a large sum upon release from a lengthy prison term is even desirable. The average lotto winner grossly mismanages their prize, and many either go broke or regret winning. Making this guy a millionaire could be insult to injury. That said, in his shoes, I might take as much as I could get.