Innocence Blog
February 27, 2007
Georgia Exoneree Pete Williams adjusts to his new life
Exonerated this month after serving 21 years for a crime he didn’t commit, Willie “Pete” Williams is still adjusting to life outside of prison. NPR Morning Edition today reports on his new life and his friendship with exoneree Calvin Johnson, who was proven innocent by DNA testing in 1999. Johnson serves on the Innocence Project Board of Directors.
"Being free — there's nothing that can actually replace that," says Williams, who was released in January. "Freedom, it means everything."The long years of incarceration have taken their toll on Williams, who continues to question whether his newfound freedom is real.
"I still have problems with that," he says. "I wake up 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, taking a look around, making sure that I'm not inside of a prison."
Read and listen to the full story. (National Public Radio, 02/27/07)
After Innocence, a moving documentary film about the struggle of seven men to readjust to life after exoneration, was recently released on DVD. Read about the documentary and how you can support the exonerated.
Read more about Pete Williams and Calvin Johnson.
Efforts to compensate the wrongly convicted are gaining support nationwide. Currently, 21 states have some form of compensation law. Yesterday’s blog covered a proposed measure in Florida and today a Miami Herald editorial advocates for passage of the legislation.
A compensation bill is also pending in Washington state and an editorial today supports passage of the bill. Read previous blog posts on this bill.
Backlogs continue to plague crime labs nationwide
When forensic labs are understaffed and underfunded, the chances are higher that mistakes will be made or shortcuts taken. Justice is compromised when thorough testing is not available due to delays or shortfalls. Many states nationwide – along with the FBI crime lab – are facing such backlogs.
In Tennessee, a crime lab backlog shows no sign of easing. 68 TBI analysts currently do 250,000 tests a year.
Kentucky’s crime lab is months behind, with 450 DNA cases waiting for testing.
An audit has also found backlogs in the Maryland crime lab.
Previous blog posts – Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida and the federal government are all considering database expansions despite backlogs.
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