Freed but Forgotten: Pennsylvania Must Support the Exonerated

Being wrongfully convicted for 17 years wasn't the worst thing to happen to my father. It was being betrayed and abandoned by the state of Pennsylvania when they did not compensate him for their mistake. Pennsylvania left my exonerated father to struggle alone.

My name is Marcus Brown Whitley. My father Drew Whitley was convicted in 1989 of a murder he did not commit. He spent 17 years in prison before he was exonerated based on DNA evidence. The state of Pennsylvania released him with no supportive services. My dad struggled in the 17 years after his release, and died in 2022. How different life would have been for my dad, mom and I had Pennsylvania provided him compensation and supportive services in the aftermath of his wrongful incarceration. Compensation that 37 other states already provide to those who were robbed of their freedom due to their wrongful convictions.

I am asking you to sign this petition calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Shapiro to pass legislation providing compensation to our family and over 100 other Pennsylvania citizens who have been released from prison in Pennsylvania after having been convicted of crimes they did not commit.  They have lost the prime of their working lives, opportunities to have children and create families, things they cannot get back. Adding insult to injury the State of Pennsylvania released them with no assistance and left them to fend for themselves.

Exonerees and their families – and the integrity of Pennsylvania’s justice system – continue to suffer year after year without a fair compensation and services statute. Please take just three minutes to hear directly from a few of Pennsylvania's victims of injustice by clicking on the link below.

https://youtu.be/tH51AcZIl6E 

Please sign this nationwide Change.Org petition, demanding the Pennsylvania General Assembly pass a long overdue bill, and Governor Shapiro sign that bill into law in 2024 granting compensation to those wrongfully convicted . Compensation comparable to what most other states are already providing their exonerees. We ask them to act now and end the suffering for Pennsylvania citizens. Imagine if it happened to you.