NCIP exoneree Maurice Caldwell and NCIP attorney Paige Kaneb recently spoke with ABC7 News about the struggle exonerees face after prison. In 1990, an eyewitness falsely identified Caldwell as a killer during a bad drug deal, and he wrongfully spent nearly 22 years in prison before he was exonerated with the help of NCIP.
Yet, exoneration isn’t complete vindication. Caldwell spent the majority of his adult life in prison—the world outside of prison had changed significantly during those years. Caldwell emerged from prison as a free man; however, he had a back injury and did not have any resources available to him start his new life.
Both Caldwell and Kaneb expressed their disappointment with the lack of resources available to exonerees after prison. “Exonerees don’t get anything when they get out,” said Kaneb. “They don’t get counseling, they don’t get housing.”
“Not a bus card, not a phone number, not a direction, nothing,” said Caldwell. Caldwell said he didn’t even get an apology.
Although the state of California does have a statute to provide exonerees $100 a day for each day wrongfully spent imprisoned, the process takes years and the state board does not approve the majority of cases they review. Caldwell must appear before a state board to prove his innocence.
“It is unfair for so many reasons. It’s unfair because he’s already been so wronged. It’s unfair because the state has already conceded that they cannot prove him guilty,” said Kaneb.
Watch the segment here.
www.ncip.scu.edu
