(AP) -- Arizona legislators on Monday apologized to Ray Krone, a man who spent a decade in prison, including time on death row, before DNA evidence exonerated him of a 1991 killing in Phoenix.

The House and Senate took no formal action but members stood and applauded Krone as he stood in each chamber's visitors' gallery to be introduced during floor sessions Monday. Seven of the 90 state legislators also individually apologized to him during a news conference organized by the Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Link

http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=4527936&nav=23Ku

im glad to see they did have the common courtesy to apologize to him.......

angela

Well, that was real big of them....perhaps they can pass a law giving him back the years he spent in prison. Or, let's say, $1 million for each year.

Anyone can apologize. Mind, for politicians to do so must be regarded as a landmark event.

To me this shows the system worked. I man who was innocent was released from custody. But do we now apologize to every inmate (burglar, robber, rapist, etc) who is found innocent and released?

To me this shows the system worked. I man who was innocent was released from custody. But do we now apologize to every inmate (burglar, robber, rapist, etc) who is found innocent and released?

YES we should and for ones that have years of their lives stole from them, they should get more then an apology they should get compensation. Our system doesn't work or we wouldn't have had over 120 people exonerated, they should have never been convicted and spent many many years locked up for a crime they didn't commit.

Sure you can argue that Mr Krone and others didn't get executed so our justice system works. But their lives were stole by an unjust system. You send a man in his 20's to DR and have him spent 20+ years and then let out. They have stolen his life, his family his career and caused him to live in H*** for a crime he didn't commit. An apology is the very least we can do.

Amen! Softie!!

Alot of these men have the chance to have children taken from them by the system, amongst other things. It's not like you are learning a trade sitting on Death Row, so when you get out you can get a decent job and support your self. Yes, They Deserve an apology!!! Damn right they do!!

If "the system" can go to the trouble of arresting, trying, and wrongly convicting people, I dare say it can make time to offer apologies and compensation to those who are eventually exonerated, regardless of the original crime.

Perhaps the judicial system should carry liability insurance much as every one of us is required to for our cars, and for much the same reason. If I injure someone while driving, however unintentionally, I am liable to be sued for damages. Shouldn't the state be held to at least the same standard as its citizens?

If "the system" can go to the trouble of arresting, trying, and wrongly convicting people, I dare say it can make time to offer apologies and compensation to those who are eventually exonerated, regardless of the original crime.

Perhaps the judicial system should carry liability insurance much as every one of us is required to for our cars, and for much the same reason. If I injure someone while driving, however unintentionally, I am liable to be sued for damages. Shouldn't the state be held to at least the same standard as its citizens?

Softie - DaveMoff,

I agree with both of you and will go one step farhter - I think that when an innocent person is incarcerated the DA should have to do the same time as was given to the innocent. Maybe they will make sure that they are convicting these people for all of the right reasons and not just to get a few "atta good boy"'s out of it.

There is no excuse for so many wrongful convictions - none. So many of the public think that just because a person was arrested he is guilty. That is not the case in all situations. My eyes were opened up a few years back and it is a very scarey world out there.

JMHO

Snapdragon

I think many cases of overzealous prosecution could be avoided if state prosecutors were simple employees, rather than elected or appointed officials. Many, many cases are mishandled by overzealous prosecutors hoping to gain political favor or advancement.

Another thought--let the employees of the County Attorney/District Attorney's office switch places with those of the Pulibc Defender's office on, say, a weekly basis. It just might happen that the scales of justice would end up being a bit more balanced if each of the attorneys involved in any criminal case were required to see--and act on--it from both sides.

It'll never happen of course but I can dream....

There are SO MANY things that need corrected for the innocents when they are released. A convicted person that ACTUALLY did the crime gets more help and support than an innocent person released.

I found it quite amusing (not really) that Bob and Randy had to go back through the whole process of getting their driver's licenses when, in fact, the state should've given their licenses back to them since the state was the one that wrongfully convicted them.

I also wonder about all social security money that they lose out on because they are incarcerated and don't have jobs. What happens with that?

Here is a really good story about wrongful convictions and what states actually pay out compensation. You'll be astounded to know that many states don't give the wronged person squat.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/burden/etc/chart.html

I guess we are fortunate in Ohio that there is something set up. It doesn't bring back the 16-1/2 yrs that they lost, but at least they can try and have a decent future.

There is a really good documentary called After Innocence. If you haven't seen it, I strongly suggest it. It shows what innocent people go through AFTER they are exonerated. Their lives are no picnic.

The link above is where you can find the "After the Innocence" story.

I am so glad to see that they were freed. I was visiting my sister in Ohio and there was something in the paper about their case and the "evidence" that convicted them. It was absolutely discusting. I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PERSERVERED AND CORRECTED AN TOTAL MISCARRIAGE OFJUSTICE. I couldn't find where to add the happy dance, but I'm doing it. Hugs to them both.

:yay: Thanks Tiger! :yay: I'm doing the "happy dance" for ya! :)