A Pittance for 27 Years of Lost Freedom
Michael Evans spent 27 years in an Illinois prison for a crime DNA evidence later proved he didn't commit. He was released in 2003.
What did he get as compensation? $6,000. a year.
Evans left prison in 2003 and received little more than a hug from his family. No money. No training. No job placement. No therapy. No apology. It took two more years and a governor's pardon before the state coughed up $162,000 to compensate Evans for his lost life. Evans has distributed most of that sum to family members and others who helped win his release.
On Tuesday, Evans lost a $60 million civil lawsuit he brought against 10 former Chicago police officers he accused of conspiring to manipulate evidence and coerce an eyewitness in his criminal trial. So $162,000 is likely to be all he'll get for his ... inconvenience.
Shame on Illinois.
< NY Times Withheld NSA Article at Election Time | Rehabilitation: An Antidote to Prison Nation > |