He was 21 when he got wrongly convicted, and 47 when he finally got out. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/03/dna.exoneration.ap/index.html
Interesting....I assume this is an anti-Dallas comment? If not, I apologize. "One of the biggest reasons for the large number of exonerations in Texas is the crime lab used by Dallas County, which accounts for about half the state's DNA cases. Unlike many jurisdictions, the lab used by police and prosecutors retains biological evidence, meaning DNA testing is a viable option for decades-old crimes." The article states above that one of the biggest reasons there are so many exonnerations based on DNA in Dallas County is because the Dallas County lab retains biological evidence. This alone makes DNA testing possible well after the crime. So.....I would say that if other counties nationwide retained DNA evidence, you'd see a lot more people go free for crimes they did not commit. I can't account for why these things happen decades later after the conviction, but better late than never for a person sitting in prison and shouldn't be. Perhaps this IS a good job on their part.
I hope he gets to be a millionaire because of this..... I mean 27 years....give me a break. Friggen Shawshank right there. DD
I think you are right, Dallas is actually doing a good job in the lab, so these wrongly convicted people now have a chance to be cleared, where as in other part of the country these people would be just locked up for life.
You can not sue the government for wrongful conviction correct? We have many lawers here, I am sure someone can verify if my understanding is correct.
State law automatically gives an exonerated person $25,000 for each year of incarceration, so this guy would be eligible for $650,000, I assume.
If that is the case, at least he would have some money for what he went through , 27 years behind bars is rough!
this should be moved to d&d. couple of issues, overzealous police and prosecutors, and why is this man in jail for 26 years anyway? I mean, rape is a vicious crime, but 27 years? that's ridiculous.
and right below District Attorney Craig Watkins also attributes the exonerations to a past culture of overly aggressive prosecutors seeking convictions at any cost.
The aggressiveness and belief that they got the right person is the reason all those samples were preserved. The old D.A. wanted to be able to prove and reprove the convictions. He thought saving the samples would give the county every opportunity to prove they got the right guy. That it's resulted in finding so many wrongly convicted men is somewhat ironic.
Yes, saw that.....but the "biggest reasons" tag was what led me to believe that at least the evidence the lab is retaining is serving a purpose. I firmly believe that Dallas County is not the only county with a past culture of overly aggressive prosecutors. In fact, I would not be surprised if this exists today in certain circles. At least here, these wrongly convicted inmates have a chance, should new DNA evidence surface.
Thats way too little money to have been locked up. That girl who wrongly accused him should go to jail too. I mean if you aren't sure don't just point at someone just to get revenge. They are just as bad as the rapist, as they ruin peoples lives.
Only thing I was able to find was this article stating that, in Texas, a wrongful conviction pays $25,000/yr to the innocent person. So, the State should be paying Mr. Chatman about $650,000. It doesn't exactly make up for 26 years of a life wasted, but it at least it's something to get his life started again... http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2006/11/texas-pays-450000-for-wrongful.html
The victim in this case is now living in a nursing home so good luck with that. This is no worse than the case of that fellow Taylor (I believe) from Houston who was locked up for 14 years based on the victim's ID of him while in the dark. BTW, he'll only get the money IF he agrees not to sue over his ordeal.
