"Otis Johnson went to jail at the age of 25. When he got out at 69, he rejoined a world that was starkly different from the one he remembered. This is his story."
1. "i had a client who was released after a 30 yr bid." In response to Reply # 0
my iPhone blew her mind. she had a flip phone and was barely able to understand how to use it. she had heard about text messages but didn't really get it. i compared it to a telegram and she understood it. she could read messages but didn't know how to respond.
then she had a check she wanted to cash and so we walked out of my office and i used my phone to find a bank nearby. she was STUNNED. she had no context for that. she almost cried but held it together.
Not unless they can prove they were convicted/imprisoned due to some sort of bad faith/misconduct on the part of the prosecutor, judge, police or other government actor. That's already available, btw. I have worked on those cases.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Thu Nov-26-15 08:05 AM
7. "i cant wait to hear this one" In response to Reply # 6
nigga handing out shrugs after a 30 year bid when the man was innocent the whole time?
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
9. "courts would be clogged" In response to Reply # 6 Thu Nov-26-15 11:46 PM by SoWhat
if every convict who feels they were 'wrongly' convicted bc they're actually innocent was able to sue for money damages seeking compensation for the time of their incarceration. That's one reason the law limits recovery to those who can prove their conviction and incarceration resulted from malfeasance on the part of a government actor. Also, how would these folks prove their case? They'd have to prove actual innocence, I assume. Keep in mind criminal trials don't result in 'innocence' verdicts. 'Not guilty' doesn't mean innocent - it means the fact-finder decided the prosecution didn't prove its case or the defense proved some justification that meant the defendant was not guilty of the charge the prosecutor brought. Whether the defendant is actually innocent is kinda not relevant. Which feels odd, I'm sure. It was odd to me b4 I had more experience on this side of the issue.
I think instead of offering compensation to innocent convicts, the system should actually rehabilitate inmates so when they leave prison they're ready to contribute to society and their communities. Also the 8th amendment protection against cruel punishment should be put into practice more effectively. Bc paying out every innocent convict doesn't seem feasible to me. But if it can be done I wouldn't be against it.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Fri Nov-27-15 02:21 PM
16. "yeah, why clog the courts to right wrongs when they can be used to " In response to Reply # 15
convict more innocent people... lol.
like, how the hell is it bad to go back to court when wrongly convicted and try to get paid for all that time you could have been FREE to work and spend time with family.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
27. "because who are you really suing?" In response to Reply # 16
A prosecutor's job is to look at the evidence and try the person accused of the crime.
If evidence suggests John may have done the crime (but he didn't), and the prosecutor presents his case against John to a judge and jury, and the jury convicts John... who is John gonna sue when he gets out of jail? The prosecutor for doing his job? The jury for voting guilty?
Like SoWhat said, the only time they have a case is when the prosecutor/police/whoever KNOWS the person is innocent and deliberately suppresses evidence to get a conviction. THEN, the state is responsible, because they employed someone who deliberately rigged the system to put an innocent man in jail.
You can't sue just because the jury got it wrong.
*Jews you*
"this is okp tho, reading is completely optional" (c) desus
Atillah Moor Member since Sep 05th 2013 13825 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 02:34 PM
34. "You're suing a knowingly corrupt entity which still engages in corruptio..." In response to Reply # 27
The court system, the state government, industrial prison complex, police departments, etc. They are all worthy of lawsuits simply for the fact that they allow strong amounts of bias and other types of rigging to be employed in the process of sending people to jail e.g. the Central Park Jogger case.
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Everything looks like Oprah kissing Harvey Weinstein these days
36. "It doesn't work that way." In response to Reply # 34 Mon Nov-30-15 02:44 PM by SoWhat
A plaintiff has to sue individual persons who engaged in misconduct that resulted in their conviction and incarceration and the plaintiff can include a government agency that employed the bad actor(s). A plaintiff can't sue 'the system'. Bc who is going to be responsible for paying a judgment levied against 'the system'?
Also, the CP5 were able to file suit against NYC (for bad acts of local police, I assume) and NY State (for bad acts of prosecutors). The city settled and the suit against the state is ongoing.
Atillah Moor Member since Sep 05th 2013 13825 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 02:46 PM
37. "that same system would be responsible I'd imagine. " In response to Reply # 36
to just be like "sucks for you" is beyond horrendous. These systems weren't put in place to take years away from productive people and if they were then that needs to be made obvious.
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Everything looks like Oprah kissing Harvey Weinstein these days
Atillah Moor Member since Sep 05th 2013 13825 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 03:00 PM
39. "All agencies involved in the wrongful imprisonment" In response to Reply # 38
The courts (or wherever their budget comes from), prosecutor's office (or wherever their budget comes from), the local state government where the case was tried, and the police if it can be proven protocol was violated.
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Everything looks like Oprah kissing Harvey Weinstein these days
Atillah Moor Member since Sep 05th 2013 13825 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 03:59 PM
41. "'someone' has done wrong when an innocent person goes to jail " In response to Reply # 40
so all parties that are involved in the wrongful sentencing are accountable. Putting people behind bars (one of the most fucked up places to spend any time) for large amounts of their life is not something to simply wash one's hands of -- that in and of itself is criminal and if people are simply "doing their jobs" and ruining peoples lives as a result then their employers are responsible.
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Everything looks like Oprah kissing Harvey Weinstein these days
42. "the jury put him behind bars." In response to Reply # 41 Mon Nov-30-15 04:02 PM by Cenario
all the gov't does is present the evidence. Assuming they don't do any other shenanigans the jury is deciding on guilt based on the evidence presented
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
44. "both sides are selecting the jury." In response to Reply # 43
just like both sides are presenting evidence.
Could the whole system use an overhaul? I'm not arguing against that.
Is there someone to sue when everyone did their job in good faith?
No.
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
46. "actually they dont'" In response to Reply # 45
>They gotta pay for it one way or the other.
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
48. "oh i thought we were talking about suing." In response to Reply # 47
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
20. "what about those cleared by say DNA evidence? that seems to be" In response to Reply # 9
a scenario that ive seen a few times in the past few years...nigga gets cleared by way of dna evidence after doing 20-40 years as a RAPIST in jail (second most reviled only to a child molester)...some have been able to get some compensation, others not...i dont see how someone isnt due SOME type of comeuppance after giving up the greater part of their lives on a mistake...just doesnt seem right. but i wanted your opinion because i know lawyers being on the other side of the law see things differently sometimes.
22. "If the convict can prove their conviction resulted from malfeasance/ bad..." In response to Reply # 20 Mon Nov-30-15 08:49 AM by SoWhat
on the part of a government actor then they can be awarded money. They don't get paid if the convict merely discovers exculpatory evidence (like dna) that was previously unavailable to the prosecution.
31. "i think if you were wrongly convicted for a crime and falsely" In response to Reply # 25
imprisoned then yeah you should be. and im not picking scenarios out of the sky either btw. that dna situation has popped up several times in the last several years.
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
4. "Shit I can't even imagine." In response to Reply # 0
Technological and condiment advances aside, it's gotta be really tough to readjust to normal society after being in jail for that long.
I'd be really interested just to hear more of his perspective on tech and the internet as someone who has no experience with it at all getting thrown into todays world. Many older people don't really grasp it well even though they've been exposed to it gradually with everyone else. I can see this guy just trying to live the rest of his life avoiding it altogether.
8. "RE: My Life After 44 Years In Prison" In response to Reply # 0
I thought about this the other day 16 years ago touch screens, wifi, tablets, streaming music..most of these are things people were barely hearing about at that time...
now imagine you been away since the early 90's when people were still wearing cross colours and karl kani....
You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.
PoppaGeorge Member since Nov 07th 2004 10384 posts
Fri Nov-27-15 12:01 AM
10. "imagine you went in back in the 70's like this cat." In response to Reply # 8
>now imagine you been away since the early 90's when people >were still wearing cross colours and karl kani....
I think of life back in the 70's and compare it to now and I'm surprised anyone that went in back then and is just getting out now is even able to function in society at all.
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"Where was the peace when we were getting shot? Where's the peace when we were getting laid out? Where is the peace when we are in the back of ambulances? Where is the peace then? They don't want to call for peace then.
11. "i mean, his mind was blown by.....gatorade" In response to Reply # 10
I get the feeling that he don't know what he don't know...lol
Like, if the pretty colors of Gatorade are some fancy shit to him, he prolly don't have online access where he could prolly find his missing family in seconds...THAT would really blow his mind
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Fri Nov-27-15 02:42 PM
17. "hmm... was he in Alcatraz? " In response to Reply # 11
maybe I have been jaded by tv shows but I thought most jails had ways of getting cell phones and other contraband.
I thought they had little storages too... is the stuff the sell straight up old school generic shit?
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
18. "I hate that jails dont introduce these things" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Nov-27-15 04:06 PM by Heinz
a long the way for people like him who do long bids...like why isnt there classes where they can update them on world advances for when they get out. He seems like a real good dude who isnt complaining about the reason of his jail time, but if he just had the tools and knowledge beforehand of how the new world is...he would be so much better off. He could be useful in the working world. He wouldve been able to find his family online real quick. Its sad how much our justice system fails people, the innocent and the guilty.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Fri Nov-27-15 05:24 PM
19. "they watch movies and regular tv " In response to Reply # 18
so while they don't experience new things they can't be shocked they exist...
unless they watching repeats of I love Lucy
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 11:04 AM
24. "give a 65 year old an ipad and watch how angry they get" In response to Reply # 23
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79574 posts
Mon Nov-30-15 02:29 PM
33. "they separate inmates decades bruh" In response to Reply # 28
if you are locked up in the 80's they keep you with all the dudes locked up in the 80's.
That's Incredible on repeat and shit
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
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