Colorado Must Compensate Prisoners Freed By DNA Evidence
The Denver Post
GRAND JUNCTION — When Robert Dewey walked
out of prison a free man after more than 16 years of being imprisoned
for a murder he didn't commit, he left empty-handed.
He wasn't
given the $100 debit card that parolees receive on release. He wasn't
offered shelter in a halfway house, as the guilty who have served their
time are. He wasn't directed to any job training or educational
resources.
In Colorado, there is no compensation and no help of any sort for those who have been wrongly imprisoned.
"I
didn't even get the 'gate money.' All I got was an apology. The
prosecutors said, 'We're really sorry. Have a nice life,' " Dewey, 51,
said two months after his release from prison, which was prompted after
new DNA testing identified a new suspect in the 1994 killing of a young
Palisade woman.
Now, prosecutors across the state agree that
Colorado needs to do something to compensate those who are exonerated
by DNA evidence after being wrongly imprisoned. A national advocacy
group is pushing for the Colorado legislature to craft a compensation
law. And legislators are evaluating the introduction of such a law in
the next session.
1 comment:
To begin, prosecutors are a huge part of the problem. They pay 'expert witnesses; they manipulate simply for the win. It's grand for their careers, regardless of innocense. This man, among several others, has lost much of his life due to occupational gain. We, as a people, must stand by the accused; research. It's more than evident that incarceration is profit, regardless of FACTS. Truth be told, for the most part, prosecution agenda is win at any cost. It's overdue to pay the piper. Will the state of Colorado remove this man's erroneous felony? PEOPLE: KEEP WATCH. There is much corruption;deceit amongst the courts/system. Help. ~Thank You~
Post a Comment