The Florida Legislature has been battling among themselves regarding people who have been wrongfully imprisoned and subsequently exonerated, i.e. by DNA evidence. The Legislature has been trying to develop a plan to make automatic awards based on a number of factors. The Republicans, however, are requiring that the individual have no prior felony convictions, in other words "clean hands" before they will agree to any automatic payment plan.
Currently if someone wants payback for all of the years they have lost due to a wrongful conviction, they have to petition the Legislature. A lot of times they get nothing. Alan Crotzer, who lost twenty four years, more than half his life, due to a wrongful conviction recently got such an award of $1.25 million for his time. He would not be eligible for this award under the Republican plan.
It is amazing that the legislature is being so heartless. You can imagine how much Mr. Crotzer has lost during that time. If he had any children, they are in their mid 20's. He would have missed so much of their lives. When he went to jail, their were no cellphones, Starbucks, mp3 players, things we take for granted these days. What does a prior felony conviction have to do with the fact that for 24 long years, or 8,760 days he was not free.
The payment he is receiving is comes out to approximately $52, 000 per year. He says he is not bitter. He is a better man than I. I cannot see the money being a fair trade off for all the experience of life that he lost. Congratulations Mr. Crotzer and I wish you all the best.
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