The link above is about how innocent people that are convicted of crimes who do end up being exonerated lose the lives they knew before prison. Surprisingly, this story tells the story of Beverly Monroe, a middle class mother with a master’s degree was convicted of the murder of her “long time companion.” In spite of evidence pointing to a suicide, law enforcement told Beverly that she was a suspect and was charged and convicted for 22 years for murder. Luckily her daughter was a lawyer who found 7 years later that prosecutors withheld evidence that would have shown that she was innocent.
When she was exonerated, she lost everything she had before. This ties into the subjects of false convictions and stigma. From the moment someone is even charged with a crime they did not commit, their lives are changed.
This video also shows two other stories of two men, Larry Peterson and Thomas McGowen. Larry Peterson was sentenced to life for a murder and sexual assault of a woman. He was finally freed from prison due to DNA tests that proved his innocent. He talks about how he was denied every chance at employment because exoneration does not erase the criminal record. This all but takes away the chances of exonerated people to find a job, obtain credit, or obtain what is necessary to continue a life. Thomas McGowen was convicted for a burglary and rape that he did not commit. He served 22 years before being released from prison.
The end of this video exposes the harsh and sad truth that police and forensic scientists have manufactured physical evidence and prosecutors that know their witnesses are lying have pushed to convict innocent and falsely charged people.
