HAOLE Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 This was on yahoo news today. I was wondering what people thought about compensating those who have been wrongly convicted and imprisoned. Texas man freed after 26 years in prison By JEFF CARLTON, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 59 minutes ago Three times during his nearly 27 years in prison, Charles Chatman went before a parole board and refused to admit he was a rapist. His steadfastness was vindicated Thursday, when a judge released him because of new DNA evidence showing he indeed wasn't. The release of Chatman, 47, added to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates. "Every time I'd go to parole, they'd want a description of the crime or my version of the crime," Chatman said. "I don't have a version of the crime. I never committed the crime. I never will admit to doing this crime that I know I didn't do." District Judge John Creuzot, whom defense lawyers credited with shepherding Chatman's case for exoneration through the legal system, recommended that Texas' Court of Criminal Appeals find Chatman not guilty. With several relatives dabbing at their eyes with tissues and cheering, Chatman was released. "I really can't tell you how I feel," said his aunt, Ethel Barley. "But I can tell you it is a different feeling than I have had in a long time, just to be holding his own hand." Before the crime is officially cleared from Chatman's record, the appeals court must accept the recommendation or the governor must grant a pardon. Either step is considered a formality after Creuzot's ruling. Chatman became the 15th inmate from Dallas County since 2001 to be freed by DNA testing. He served more time than any of the other inmates, four of whom were in court Thursday to show their support. Dallas has freed more inmates after DNA testing than any other county nationwide, said Natalie Roetzel of the Innocence Project of Texas. Texas leads the country in prisoners freed by DNA testing, releasing at least 30 wrongfully convicted inmates since 2001, according to the Innocence Project. One of the biggest reasons for the large number of exonerations 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. District Attorney Craig Watkins also attributes the exonerations to a past culture of overly aggressive prosecutors seeking convictions at any cost. Watkins has started a program in which law students, supervised by the Innocence Project of Texas, are reviewing about 450 cases in which convicts have requested DNA testing to prove their innocence. "It is time we stop kidding ourselves in believing that what happened in Dallas is somehow unique," said Jeff Blackburn, the founder of the Innocence Project of Texas. "What happened in Dallas is common. This is Texas." The hearing attracted a standing-room-only crowd that included Watkins, who was greeted warmly by two wrongly convicted Dallas men who have since won their freedom. Also there was state Rep. Terri Hodge, a member of the criminal jurisprudence committee, who promised unspecified reforms when the Legislature convenes in 2009. Chatman was 20 when the victim, a young woman in her 20s, picked him from a lineup. Chatman said he lived five houses down from the victim for 13 years but never knew her. She identified him in court as the attacker, and serology tests showed that the type of blood found at the crime scene matched that of Chatman — along with 40 percent of other black males. Chatman said he was working at the time of the assault, an alibi supported by his sister, who was also his employer. Nevertheless, Chatman was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1981 and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Chatman said he believes his race led to his arrest and conviction. The jury, he said, had one black member. "I was convicted because a black man committed a crime against a white woman," Chatman said. "And I was available." Chatman said he wants to work with the Innocence Project of Texas to support other people exonerated or wrongly convicted. "I believe that there are hundreds, and I know of two or three personally that very well could be sitting in this seat if they had the support and they had the backing that I have," Chatman said. "My No. 1 interest is trying to help people who have been in the situation I am in." ___ Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber contributed to this report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yes. But, I don't know who should pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SinisterSS Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Haven't you ever been in trouble your guilty until proven innocent, everyone knows that...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 I don't know if compensation is even the correct answer, if anything he is a martyr for a flawed system. This is a consequence of the judicial system that we have and the society that we live in, people that are wrongly accused are an acceptable loss in our system. I can't think of a way to do things differently, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boost-n-Juice Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Hell yes he should. How do you put a price on that? Makes me sick to my stomach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAOLE Posted January 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 I think he should be compensated too. This hits home with me. As some of you may remember I have a cousin on death row in Arizona for a murder he did not commit. Not saying my cousin is a good guy and should not be in jail, but he did not deserve the death penalty. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 But how do you eliminate this type of action from happening with our system? What would you change that would eliminate that as a possibility? Things like his are easy to complain about, but hard to solve. There was a really good movie about a situation like yours a few years back. I can't remember what it was called. A group has a woman commit suicide on tape and then gets another member of the group convicted on circumstantial evidence. After they execute him they release the tape of the lady killing herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAOLE Posted January 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 But how do you eliminate this type of action from happening with our system? What would you change that would eliminate that as a possibility? Things like his are easy to complain about, but hard to solve. I have no clue about how to solve these problems. It is a shame though, it could happen to any of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokin5s Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 But how do you eliminate this type of action from happening with our system? What would you change that would eliminate that as a possibility? Things like his are easy to complain about, but hard to solve. There was a really good movie about a situation like yours a few years back. I can't remember what it was called. A group has a woman commit suicide on tape and then gets another member of the group convicted on circumstantial evidence. After they execute him they release the tape of the lady killing herself. the life of David Gale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Compensation: Yes, absolutely. Payment: Comes from the DA's annual budget. That will motivate them to do a better job. Will this hurt the taxpayers? Yep, but what doesn't? Keep in mind, the guy did 26 years on our dime, time that he should have spent in society, being functional. We alway have to pay for the mistakes of our government in some way, it's incentive to vote in competent people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 absolutely all for compensating him. 26yrs....there's no amount of money I would do 26yrs for, so let him have whatever the hell he wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slimpsy1647545505 Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Definitely should get more than an apology. I agree to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils Advocate Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 They should START at 26 mil... Take it from the Nat'l defense budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin R. Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Honestly I don't even know what I would do if this happened to me. Probably get of jail and Boondock Saints people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Honestly I don't even know what I would do if this happened to me. Probably get of jail and Boondock Saints people. QFMFT! your life is lost, and all you get is an apology? time for Retribution Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron_ Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yes. The state of texas should chalk up something I occasionally do work for the Delaware County Prosecutor's office (as a prosecutor) They're more than fair...i think it's a pretty nice system (at the very least, I can't think of a better one either) The prosecutors have a view that figures...they shouldn't cheat or lie or do anything out of the ordinary to convict someone. If a prosecutor 'loses' a case, he's still winning...because an innocent person goes free I imagine it wasn't always this way, but that mindset is spreading and more prevalent than not. It's when politics get involved when it gets ugly (Duke rape case as case in point) - politicians/prosecutors up for election use their position to spotlight themselves and go beyond the limits of the facts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lustalbert Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yes. Suing the prosecuter into non exsistance would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty2Hotty Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 I sue that dumb cunt, and make her suffer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug1647545489 Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 The state should and probably compensate him. Its probably different in every state but I though I read that its usually about 200-250k a year incarcerated. I would want much more than that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 HE should be allowd to rape that bitch. I mean he did the time. j/k. And yes the state should compensate him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87GT Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 He should get a new house in Texas for free. He shouldn't have to pay any taxes for the rest of his life. That is my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 they ruined this guys life. 27 friggin years. not the crappy ones at the end but the good ones. I think he should be compensated with a min of 250K a year. AND a public apolgiy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TURBOED Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 You'd better believe that if I were him, I would be on the hunt for that white bitch that picked me out of a line up. They should send her to jail for being stupid, and he should get anything he wants of hers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Compensation: Yes, absolutely. Payment: Comes from the DA's annual budget. That will motivate them to do a better job. Exactly I believe government jobs such as those shouldn't be free rides. Same goes for all government paid jobs. The people have basically no incentive to do anything right or fast or to even give a damn about what they are doing. Especially jobs such as Social Security fraud dept. We've tried turning my father in-law in several times for continuing to steal social security payments for his dead wife after he remarried. He's always been a SS fraud kinda guy though. They basically tell us that they don't care that he's stealing money from us all. Back on topic. He should be compensated for sure. 250K per year is nothing. Only around 6.5mil. Add at least a 0 to that number and take it from the DA as Eric suggested. Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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