How do we as a society ever rectify the damage that is, wrongful convictions. Decades of abuse, a lack of proper nutrition, substandard medical care, decades of restless sleep, countless painful losses. Loss of innocence, loss of liberty, loss of youth, loss of loved ones, loss of dignity, loss of identity, as you are now, an inmate. Consistent and everyday violence, as prison as an institution is itself violence. Cell searches are violent, strip searches are violent, removal of belongings are violent,failed appeals for the innocent are violent. It is my assertion, that no matter the numerical amount of financial compensation, no matter the intensity of the celebratory release, it is not possible, to ever accurately quantify the effect of a wrongful conviction, the impact of being subjected to violence, the degradation of repeated strip searches, the immeasurable financial losses, family disunities, loss of career, lost moments with loved ones, missing countless experiences, being labeled by government as a criminal, mistreatment by officers, inadequate medical treatment, the crippling effects of stress on health, and countless other forms of seen and unseen trauma. Since there is no way to measure the effect of the stolen innocence of countless men women and children, it seems to reason, that there is no way to ever fully compensate one who has been so egregiously failed by the criminal (in) justice system. For those who have to endure all that is encompassed within a wrongful conviction, the compounded injustice of having to begin their lives over again, years later, traumatized with nothing, after being subjected to many different life derailing tragedies, is in and of itself unthinkable and unjust. Wrongful conviction is not a full enough label to encompass all that one faces as an convicted innocent. The multilayered, adroitly implemented, systemic breaking of the soul and psyche of an innocent, far too many innocent, is a stain on our Nation. That has and will continue to impact us greatly. We are ALL held to the limitations of every oppressive system. How do we as a society every rectify the damage that is a wrongful conviction? My conclusion is that we absolutely cannot, but we can demand that we do better... wearethesrc.org.