Maryland Approves $3M+ for Man Wrongly Imprisoned 31 Years

Maryland Approves $3M+ for Man Wrongly Imprisoned 31 Years

Introduction

Maryland officials approved over $3 million in compensation for a Baltimore man who spent 31 years in prison on a wrongful murder conviction.

During a Board of Public Works meeting, the governor apologized to the man, expressing regret for the justice system's failure. "On behalf of the entire state, I'm sorry for the failure of the justice system," he said, adding that while no amount can make up for the injustice, he hoped the state could provide compensation "in a way that your family deserves."

The accused was a 25-year-old new father when convicted in 1987 of first-degree murder and a gun crime, had no physical evidence linking him to the murder. Multiple witnesses testified that he was not the shooter, and several people confirmed his whereabouts at the time of the crime. The prosecution’s key witness, who was 12 years old at the time, later recanted his testimony, claiming he was manipulated by the police.

The plaintiff, now 63, was released in October 2018 after his convictions were vacated by the Baltimore City Circuit Court. In January 2019, the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office dismissed the charges. An administrative law judge determined that, under state law, the plaintiff is entitled to $94,991—the current median household income in Maryland—for each of the 31 years he was wrongfully incarcerated. In addition to nearly $3 million for wrongful confinement, he will receive more than $89,000 to resolve housing benefit claims.

The compensation is a significant acknowledgment of the wrongful conviction and the impact of the decades-long injustice on the man's life. The governor's apology and the financial settlement aim to provide some measure of restitution for the years lost.