GONZALEZ: Pope represents a small but growing number of the wrongfully incarcerated in this country who have had their convictions overturned and then been released. These innocent men and women were convicted and sent to prison for a variety of reasons such as incorrect eyewitness identifications, police and prosecutorial misconduct, and coerced confessions. However, after surviving prison and proving their innocence, exonerated individuals often face a multitude of new challenges once they’re released.
LOLA VOLLEN (Founder and Executive Director, Life After Exoneration Program, LAEP): They come out like newborns with nothing and stripped of their identity and their dignity. And then —
GONZALEZ: And left to fend for themselves?
Ms. VOLLEN: Yes, and what they have to fend against is ongoing injustices.
GONZALEZ: Lola Vollen is the founder and executive director of the Berkeley, California-based Life After Exoneration Program, called LAEP by its members.
VOLLEN: It’s an effort to help those whose lives have been virtually destroyed by the criminal justice system move forward in a meaningful and satisfying way, to help them heal and move forward.
As a parole officer, I have to note the irony here. Paroled offenders, as opposed to those with overturned convictions, come out to some structure, requirements (as appropriate) for substance abuse treatment, job seach (or training), educational attainment and so on. A variety of services are in place for them. Personally, I would support giving exonerated people an exorbitant amount of money, plus all the services normally available those on parole.