We have all heard, and probably even used the adage, “You do the crime, you do the time,” but what happens when someone does the time, but didn’t do the crime?
Well, in most instances those individuals will generally serve their specified sentence. If there is any time left for them when they are released, they try to assume a modicum of normalcy.
In some instances, people who serve time, yet did not commit the crimes they were initially charged with are exonerated in large part because of the efforts of individuals and organizations such as the Innocence Project.
Glenn Ford, 65, is one such individual. Ford spent nearly three decades on death row at Angola prison in Louisiana for a murder he didn’t commit. He was freed last year after attorneys with the Innocence Project – New Orleans offered their help.
However, things for Ford have not been peaches and cream since his exoneration. As a matter of fact, they have been the complete opposite of euphoria.
In addition to spending nearly half his life behind bars, Ford is now also terminally ill with Stage 4 lung cancer. Ford believes his cancer would not have reached its current level had prison officials taken his complaints of health issues seriously
Now, Ford runs the possibility of losing the little support and medical assistance he receives from hospice workers because he is destitute and unable to pay his medical bills.
But the bad news for Ford doesn’t end there. According to Louisiana law, an individual is eligible to receive up to $25,000 for every year they are wrongfully incarcerated. There is a lifetime cap of $250,000. A few months ago, Ford was denied any compensation because a Louisiana district judge ruled that while Ford did not commit the murder of a jewelry store owner, he was “proven to be guilty of lesser crimes and was not an innocent man.” These lesser crimes Judge Katherine Dorroh cited were that Ford knew of the robbery plans that led to the murder, yet did not attempt to prevent the incident from occurring. Dorroh also believed Ford tried to destroy evidence by pawning some of the jewelry. Currently, Ford and his attorneys are appealing Dorroh’s decision – a process that may take far longer than the four to six months doctors have given Ford to live.
But yet again, the drama for Ford doesn’t end here.
A.M. Stroud III, the prosecutor who tried Ford admits “the cards were stacked against (Ford) from the beginning.”
Those “cards” included an inexperienced defense team that never handled a capital case before, an all-white jury, and evidence that was circumstantial.
Stroud admits during that 1984 case as a young 33-year-old attorney, he was less interested in justice and more interested in winning.
Stroud’s desire to win is probably reflective of thousands of American attorneys, many of whom who have sent multitudes of innocent men and women to prison.
Stroud recently visited Ford’s home and personally apologized for his role in the wrongful conviction.
As I updated myself on Ford’s case, I couldn’t help but ask myself, how much more injustice can Ford take? How much more must he bear?
Ford has been stripped of his life, first by the 30 years spent in prison, and now by the progression of his deadly cancer. He has been denied federal money rightfully owned to him, even though the prosecutor that tried Ford has apologized to Ford
Apologies are great, even admirable, but they mean nothing without accompanying restitution to a man who spent 30 years in prison and now has less than a year to live.
Ford told Stroud as much during that recent visit. He said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t forgive you. I want to, but I just can’t.”
We often speak about the importance of forgiveness and how it is always necessary. In this instance, I think Glenn Ford should get a pass on this. He has endured so many wrongs and suffered so much unjust loss. I think the least Stroud and everyone else should do is respect Ford’s decision during the final months of his life and not “take” anything else from him – including his dignity.
https://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/opinion/article_175650c4-0aeb-11e5-b5eb-e7363cc13ee1.html
In some instances, people who serve time, yet did not commit the crimes they were initially charged with are exonerated in large part because of the efforts of individuals and organizations such as the Innocence Project.
Glenn Ford, 65, is one such individual. Ford spent nearly three decades on death row at Angola prison in Louisiana for a murder he didn’t commit. He was freed last year after attorneys with the Innocence Project – New Orleans offered their help.
However, things for Ford have not been peaches and cream since his exoneration. As a matter of fact, they have been the complete opposite of euphoria.
In addition to spending nearly half his life behind bars, Ford is now also terminally ill with Stage 4 lung cancer. Ford believes his cancer would not have reached its current level had prison officials taken his complaints of health issues seriously
Now, Ford runs the possibility of losing the little support and medical assistance he receives from hospice workers because he is destitute and unable to pay his medical bills.
But the bad news for Ford doesn’t end there. According to Louisiana law, an individual is eligible to receive up to $25,000 for every year they are wrongfully incarcerated. There is a lifetime cap of $250,000. A few months ago, Ford was denied any compensation because a Louisiana district judge ruled that while Ford did not commit the murder of a jewelry store owner, he was “proven to be guilty of lesser crimes and was not an innocent man.” These lesser crimes Judge Katherine Dorroh cited were that Ford knew of the robbery plans that led to the murder, yet did not attempt to prevent the incident from occurring. Dorroh also believed Ford tried to destroy evidence by pawning some of the jewelry. Currently, Ford and his attorneys are appealing Dorroh’s decision – a process that may take far longer than the four to six months doctors have given Ford to live.
But yet again, the drama for Ford doesn’t end here.
A.M. Stroud III, the prosecutor who tried Ford admits “the cards were stacked against (Ford) from the beginning.”
Those “cards” included an inexperienced defense team that never handled a capital case before, an all-white jury, and evidence that was circumstantial.
Stroud admits during that 1984 case as a young 33-year-old attorney, he was less interested in justice and more interested in winning.
Stroud’s desire to win is probably reflective of thousands of American attorneys, many of whom who have sent multitudes of innocent men and women to prison.
Stroud recently visited Ford’s home and personally apologized for his role in the wrongful conviction.
As I updated myself on Ford’s case, I couldn’t help but ask myself, how much more injustice can Ford take? How much more must he bear?
Ford has been stripped of his life, first by the 30 years spent in prison, and now by the progression of his deadly cancer. He has been denied federal money rightfully owned to him, even though the prosecutor that tried Ford has apologized to Ford
Apologies are great, even admirable, but they mean nothing without accompanying restitution to a man who spent 30 years in prison and now has less than a year to live.
Ford told Stroud as much during that recent visit. He said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t forgive you. I want to, but I just can’t.”
We often speak about the importance of forgiveness and how it is always necessary. In this instance, I think Glenn Ford should get a pass on this. He has endured so many wrongs and suffered so much unjust loss. I think the least Stroud and everyone else should do is respect Ford’s decision during the final months of his life and not “take” anything else from him – including his dignity.
https://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/opinion/article_175650c4-0aeb-11e5-b5eb-e7363cc13ee1.html