How do you repay a man for a crime he didn't commit?

Submitted by anthony on Sat, 2008-04-12 10:28

Story here. Excerpt:

"Florida is among 28 states that have no compensation system for the wrongfully imprisoned. "If you're a convicted felon, when you finish your sentence they give you $100 cash and a bus ticket when you leave prison," said Michael Olenick, one of Crotzer's attorneys. "But if you've been wrongly convicted and they let you out, you don't get $100 or the bus ticket."

It's up to wronged individuals to lobby the Legislature for compensation, an inconsistent and maddening process. Last year, the Senate didn't take up Crotzer's claims bill. So far, only one of Florida's nine DNA-exonerated inmates, Wilton Dedge, has gotten a claims bill passed ($2 million in 2005).

A less capricious system could soon arrive, with the Legislature considering a broader bill (HB1025) that would set an automatic process for the wrongfully convicted. It would cap payment at $50,000 per year of imprisonment or $2 million."

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Comments

In my opinion paying some innocent guy "chump change" for decades in prison is a bad solution.

A better way would to strip away the immunity from prosecution that DA's, crime lab personel, prosecuting attornies who keep exculpatory evidence away from the defense and others associated with a judicial lynching currently enjoy. The recent Duke Lacrosse Players case is a prime example of the need for this.

Also, making false rape accusations a Class A felony would prevent these wrongful convictions too.

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Submitted by Luek on Sat, 2008-04-12 20:24

Up until last January I had been living in Florida. There was some guy named "Carnell" or something like that, who stayed in prison for many years based on a false rape accusation. When he was exhonerated, he sued the state for big bucks and won. In fact, it seems to me the case was even posted on ma.org.

Maybe it's better to handle each case individually, via lawsuit or at least some sort of agreement between the two parties. Otherwise the monetary awards may be limited by law.

-ax

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Submitted by axolotl on Sun, 2008-04-13 04:25

Prevent the press from announcing everything about the man's life before the trial is over. Let him set up a leave of absence for work so that he can fight the accusations. A lot of times, the man loses his job and his family before the case is over. That needs to stop.

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Submitted by blaze4metal on Mon, 2008-04-14 19:40

A law should be passed making it illegal to fire someone accussed of rape until it is known for sure that the allegation is true. Also, I totally agree with making false rape accusations a felony. It is a serious crime.

Men who suffer thanks to the lying words of skanks should be given compensation. There shouldn't be a cap though. I think that the false accuser should also be fined on top of being given prison time.

Next time a woman bitches about how it's so hard to be a woman, look her in the eye and say "At least it's impossible for you to be put in prison for decades for something you didn't even do! Alan Krotzer wasn't so lucky. In fact, women convicted of crimes get punished less than men who are falsely accused of crimes. It's so hard being a woman when every aspect of society including the justice, or lack thereof system kisses your ass! Boo friggity hoo!"

Evan AKA X-TRNL
Real Men Don't Take Abuse!

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Submitted by xtrnl on Tue, 2008-04-15 02:06

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Submitted by blaze4metal on Tue, 2008-04-15 21:55