TBO.com - Live in the moment
Innocent Inmates Deserve Compensation
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: February 2, 2008
Ken Pruitt, the leader of the Florida Senate, says compensation for the wrongfully convicted is one of his top priorities this year.
It's about time. Alan Crotzer, who spent 24 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit, deserves recompense.
Yet a year ago Pruitt prevented Crotzer from receiving $1.25 million offered by the state House of Representatives. The Senate president blamed the rules "process" for stalling the Crotzer legislation, despite the House's willingness to pay up.
Florida is one of 28 states that does not guarantee compensation for those who have spent years behind bars for something they didn't do. That could change this year. Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa is sponsoring a bill to provide most exonerated inmates $100,000 for every year they spent behind bars.
Whether $100,000 for every year is enough or too much should be debated among lawmakers, but it's the right approach because it would fairly compensate victims without creating a sweepstakes for wrongly accused people who believe they deserve even more.
Crotzer can't retrieve the time he lost. He deserves the money, and given the precedents for compensating others falsely imprisoned, lawmakers should see that he gets it.
Reader Comments
Posted by ( ladykatg ) on February 3, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This man should receive every dime of the money...My God his life was ruined..His family devastated..And to live the life of hell in prison...Give him the money....
Report Abuse
Posted by ( ToeCutter ) on February 4, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
24 years * $100,000/year = $2,400,000
Report Abuse
Posted by ( ToeCutter ) on February 4, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
1.25 million was a bargain
Report Abuse