The Innocence Project is an organization devoted to freeing innocent prisoners. I can think of no injustice greater than to be unjustly imprisoned. This is one of the most noble causes I have ever come across.
Just recently, they fought to release a Texas man named Charles Chatman after being in jail for 26 years.
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.
Stunning isn’t it? I am hurt inside knowing that a some men have been in jail for longer than I have been alive. To those men: I can think of no consolation equal to such an injustice. I know you will never get your life back, but I hope the rest of it is spectacular.
They’ve helped exonerate 210 innocent prisoners. Check out their fact sheet, and their blog.
Go innocence project, go. Once I make bazillions, I know what charity I’m going to.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Pam Hoffman // Jan 11, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I’m stunned!
I watch a LOT of CSI and I can only imagine what forensic science was like in ‘81. If you have an alibi, how can this actually happen?
Good to know about such organizations. Worth remembering when it’s time to give back.
26 years is a long time for a law-abiding citizen. I only hope these folks come out of it and can still participate in a lawful way.
I can’t imagine spending 26 years in jail for something I didn’t do.
Awful,
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
2 Kristen Mallahan // Jan 12, 2008 at 6:42 pm
This is a great post. Thanks for blogging about such an important topic. I watched a kind of documentary/show made about the Innocence Project and was stunned when hearing about some of the cases they have cleared to get the innocent out of prison. I’m totally all for arguing too. But I’m a little upset when I have nothing to argue about lol.
3 Leon // Jan 13, 2008 at 5:18 am
How horrible. And the worst thing is, even if he’s freed, he’ll never be able to restore his good name. And don’t get me started on finding work. Puts a lot of faith in the legal system doesn’t it?
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