Texas Awarding Millions to Wrongly Convicted People

That's not enough considering that there is a good chance of some hanky panky being forced upon you in prisons.

 

At least they're the lucky ones. This guy here wasnt:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-tc-nw-texas-execute-0824-082aug25,0,5812073.story

At least it's assuring that Texas has better conpensation that other places (even if they do lead the states in wrongful convictions )

Not even going to bother with this post.

 

Oh my God. You are one cold blooded dude.

 

His argument doesn't really make sense.

How is being in the military and fighting wars comparable to being locked in the slammer ?

 

I'm completely fine with this, and I'd up it a notch by making the sentencing judge and prosecutor financially responsible for a portion. It'd make them a little less trigger happy on circumstantially fabricated convictions.

 

This would never happen, but I think it would be the greatest thing ever.

 

Never happening, but would love to see this. Will actually make prosecutors hesitant to pad their conviction rate and less of that "tough on crime" crap.

 

What happens if it's not the prosecutor's fault?

But overall, I'm impressed that Texas passed this.

 

Risking your life to protect millions of others, then getting out and getting a smaller pension.

My argument is that it is too many tax dollars to spend. You didn't wrongfully imprison anyone, but you pay for it on both ends. These people should be taken care of, but I think this is extreme. I don't mind the 80,000 or the 50,000. I don't like both. That's more than the majority of Americans make. The defense, prosecution, and jury members will not be held accountable. The only person being held responsible is the taxpayers that had no influence in the case.

 

juicystream:

Serious question - Would you spend a year in jail, accused and convicted of rape or murder in front of everyone you know, for $80,000?

I wouldn't. I wouldn't do it for a million.

 

A good majority of Americans could amass that type of money, if the only spending they did for 20 years or so was accomodation and food. Accomodation would be one room in a not so good house -- of course. And food would be nothing fancy with no booze.

No money spent going out, friends, dating, raising kids, clothes (other then very basic). No cars. Internet and books through the library. Just one room in a shared house, and food the quality you might expect in an institution. Everything else is saved. Compound that over 20 years and see where you end up.

Live that life, and you too could be on easy street. Now, you 'd have to work at a job to do that, where the prisoner gets a free ride -- but consider that fair exchange for having the freedom to walk the streets and ride the bus, and have neither the stigma of being thought a racists, nor the cell mates not of your choosing.

Seriously J -- "no money is enough" -- but somehow you have to come up with a sum. I think this formula's pretty good.

(to those of you charging it to the Judge and prosecutor -- would you hold the Jury liable too?).

 

I like how the article says we lead the nation in releasing wrongly convicted prisoners.


it should say we lead the nation in locking up innocent people

 

Of course not. But Prosecuters and Judges have a vested interest in how many convictions they get.

It is astounding watching these ass-hats still say they think a man is guilty even after the DNA proves otherwise.

 

Throw in the constant threat of meeting the 'Tossed Salad Man'
Held away from your friends and family.

There are alot of things you are denied and others that you are exposed to . . .
that simply cannot be quantified

Rocket River

 

Our money paid to put these folks away, why shouldn't it help them out when they're released? Our system isn't perfect but when it's wrong it needs to right it the best way possible...I honestly don't care that they'll get 2-3 of my tax dollars going to their *we screwed up, our bad* fund.

I also can't see how you equate a voluntary commitment (military) with being wrongfully imprisoned. The military gives you a pension, insurance, and pays for college among other perks throughout life(like not being thought of like a p.o.s. scumbag by everyone you ever knew)...none of which matter b/c it's just a bad analogy.

You obviously can't fathom the raping (yes which still happens A LOT...it's not just in the movies...don't forget the high rate of HIV in prisoners...), constant fear for you life, sharing cramped quarters with some of the worst members of our present society, missing out on all freedom has to offer (do you need to be reminded? food? women? general entertainment? family?)...for 20+ years...

Being tough on crime is cool, being tough on the innocent isn't....

 

There is only one reason I wouldn't, and that is because I would miss a year in the life of my son and the birth of my child. I'd have to do it for a million though.

To me this isn't about would you or wouldn't you, though there are some people that would be much better off doing that, but rather the responsibility that these people should be cared for. It is by far the kindest package in the US. I absolutely love the pension idea. I love that they will pay for these people to go to college, and have medical care. I think these people shouldn't have to worry about ever finding work. I'd like to see them have enough to own a house. To try to give them what they would reasonably had they lived on the outside all those years.

Don't think I do not feel sorry for these people. Giving them large lump sum payments is just not what I think is in the best interest of the bigger picture.

 

This is what I think they should get. You all just think differently then I do. You people think this is the best way to spend limited resources, that is your opinion. I am not of that opinion.

I'll go ahead and make the military one an analogy then(not what I was trying to do originally, but rather to contrast the pay difference). A man drafted into the Vietnam war who had no desire to go there and believes the US had no business being there. He is captured and held as a POW. Does he receive $80,000/yr? Obviously his family receives benefits, but not for that amount.

 

Over 70% of Americans make a salary less than $50,000 a year. A good majority of Americans could not amass that kind of money.

 

This is quite a generous package that is very well deserved. Missing out on life because you were wrongly convicted deserves some good compensation. You can't put a price tag on the precious years you missed but at least you get to live out the rest of your life in peace without worries of having to find a job.

 

I wouldn't spend a month in a Texas prison for 80K.