Over the weekend, we hit one year since the COVID-19 lockdown started in most states. It’s been an incredibly difficult year for so many people — filled with loss, illness, distance, and fear.
There have been almost 30 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 500,000 deaths from the virus in the U.S. alone. According to the Associated Press, more than 388,000 incarcerated people and 105,000 staff members have contracted the coronavirus over the last year — and infection rates in prisons are more than three times as high as in the general public.
We’ve heard this phrase a lot throughout the year, but that’s because it’s true — we are living through an unprecedented time. It’s important to recognize those most vulnerable during this pandemic, and that includes both those fighting for their freedom inside and those recently released from prison, like our clients.
For our recent exonerees, the transition from prison to a COVID-19 world has been incredibly difficult. Too often, they can’t see their family and friends to celebrate their freedom. They are often in need of safe housing where they can socially distance, along with medical supplies, masks, and basic cleaning supplies to help stay well and healthy.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we used our Exoneree Fund to help pay for car repairs so a former client could still get to work, to pay for a hotel so a client could quarantine from his wife, and to give clients access to basic necessities to stay safe during this time. It's been a year since we replenished the Exoneree Fund, and our clients need help.
For many of our exonerated clients who are trying to rebuild their lives after years — sometimes decades — of wrongful incarceration, the generosity of our supporters makes a tremendous difference in their lives.
The Innocence Project exonerates the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. www.innocenceproject.org
