wrongly convicted man who was paid just $75 for 31 years in prison finally gets justice

[Demovictory9]

Tennessee man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 31 years has been awarded $1 million by the state.

In 1978, Lawrence McKinney was sentenced to 115 years in jail on rape and burglary charges. He was cleared of those charges in 2008 and was released from jail in 2009. At the time, the Tennessee Department of Corrections gave him $75 to start over.
"It's been a long road for Lawrence," said his attorney, Jack Lowery.

The governor recently exonerated him

Since his release, McKinney's been on a mission to clear his name. Before he could get the $1 million payout -- the maximum allowed under Tennessee law -- he needed a formal exoneration from the governor's office. But it wasn't easy.

In 2016, the Tennessee Board of Parole unanimously decided not to recommend that McKinney receive clemency.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/us/lawrence-mckinney-exoneration-trnd/

[brush]

1. I knew I didn't have to check but I went to the link anyway. It was a black guy who they tried...

their best not to give him anything but $75 after wrongly convicting him.

Just pure evil and racism.

[lapfog_1]

2. 1 million is only $32K a year for 31 years

hardly justice. No amount can give him his lost years back... but $32K a year is almost an insult.

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed

It should have been $1 million per year.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. The Parole Board Decided Unanimously, To Not Grant Clemency?

What part of "he didn't do it" did they not understand?

[mythology]

5. My guess is that came after two related things

One - he's black
Two - the jury convicted him (in large part because of 1)

There is a distinct reluctance on behalf of the criminal justice system to admit when they are wrong.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. I Think You're Onto Something

Especially item 1