# Here's something that sucks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745 "2002-11-20T15:42:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/1 "2002-11-20T15:42:31Z")
This guy was freed after twenty years by DNA evidence and Maryland won’t compensate him for his time in jail. [http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/Northeast/11/19/dna.arrest.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/Northeast/11/19/dna.arrest.ap/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/2 "2002-11-20T15:51:49Z")
If Maryland had done something criminal in their prosecution of Webster or if they had in any way prosecuted him unfairly and without the intent of seeking justice, then yes, they should compensate. But just because technology came along 20 years after they had honestly tried to put a rapist behind bars doesn’t mean IMHO they should bear fiscal responsibility unless they delay his release unfairly from this day forward. Who should compensate him? Why the SOB that actually commited the crime of course. He’s the only one besides Webster that actually knew a miscarriage of justice had occurred. I’m assuming everyone else prosecuted in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/3 "2002-11-20T15:59:48Z")
I don’t think that’s justice. I think the state should compensate the innocent who are convicted. They screwed up, good faith or not. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/4 "2002-11-20T16:27:25Z")
They might have got it wrong but I don’t know that I’d say they “screwed up.” I’m assuming that given the evidence provided, the prosecution and the jury saw reasonable cause to convict. The advent of DNA analysis in trials doesn’t mean that every previous conviction garnered without it’s use was malicious. We can’t look at old convictions and say with utter confidence which were just and which were not WITHOUT the confidence DNA presently affords. Therefore, how can we punish some juries (or states) and not others when all were made in good faith? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/5 "2002-11-20T16:35:28Z")
I’m not saying it was malicious, certainly not. The state of Maryland did take twenty years of the guy’s life away. Honet though it may be, it was a horrible mistake. What if it had been you or me? ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/6 "2002-11-20T16:42:48Z")
What about the fact that DNA evidence could have been presented 10 to 15 years ago that would have exonerated the guy? The state should pay for DNA testing for every crime that would make a difference. I say they owe the guy SOMETHING. He could have been released a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/7 "2002-11-20T16:49:22Z")
Either they didn’t have the technology twenty years ago, or it was very, very expensive. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/8 "2002-11-20T16:57:54Z")
What about the fact that DNA evidence could have been presented 10 to 15 years ago that would have exonerated the guy? The state should pay for DNA testing for every crime that would make a difference. I say they owe the guy SOMETHING. He could have been released a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/9 "2002-11-20T17:16:03Z")
I hear an EchoKitty. If it had been you or me? I don’t know about you but I’d be a little pissed. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/10 "2002-11-20T18:02:33Z")
It’s not as if there’s no precedent, either. Maryland compensated some other dude who was later exonerated by DNA testing. I just watched a segment about his case on _The New Detectives_ about two weeks ago. I’ll scrounge around for a link. ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/11 "2002-11-20T18:37:57Z")
From the title of your thread I thought you were on to something else. Carry on… ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/12 "2002-11-20T21:26:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\* > Who should compensate him? Why the SOB that actually commited the crime of course. He’s the only one besides Webster that actually knew a miscarriage of justice had occurred. > > \*\* ’ I’m not sure of the particulars of the case but wouldn’t the victim know? This guys life has bascially been ruined. What are his job prospects? Hmmm I see Laundry in you work history. Where was that located? In the state pen. But I was wrongfully convicted. Hummmmm… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/13 "2002-11-20T21:36:41Z")
The victim testified against Webster. I fully agree that it only seems just that he should get some compensation, I’m just not sure where it should come from. Likely as not, the real perpetrator of the crime will usually be just as broke as the guy wrongly convicted. ---
**Author:** ![j\_kat\_251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@j\_kat\_251](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_kat_251)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-something-that-sucks/137745/14 "2002-11-20T21:40:20Z")
[quote] From the title of your thread I thought you were on to something else. Carry on.[/quote Electrolux?