People who are wrongfully incarcerated and later exonerated, sometimes after spending decades behind bars, face significant challenges in finding jobs and rebuilding their lives after release. This struggle persists even for those who manage to win elected office, as demonstrated by a recent case in Louisiana.
Richard Miles' Struggle for Employment
Richard Miles, released from a Texas prison in 2009 after being wrongfully convicted of murder, sought work with only newspaper clippings about his case as a resume. He faced rejection from warehouses and fast-food restaurants alike. "We're still kind of like looked at as an inmate that did a particular crime," Miles said. "It further deteriorates our ability to believe that the system can heal itself." He eventually found a job through a minister at his church.
Calvin Duncan's Case in Louisiana
Calvin Duncan, who served nearly 30 years before his murder conviction was vacated in 2021 due to police lying in court, was elected as Orleans Parish clerk of criminal court in November. However, Louisiana lawmakers sent a bill to the governor abolishing his job, preventing him from taking office on May 4. Republicans argue it is about government efficiency, not Duncan's past, but exonerees see it as reflective of ongoing stigma.
Systemic Barriers for Exonerees
Jon Eldan, founder of After Innocence, noted, "Even if they are seen as somebody who is exonerated, there is still a stigma as somebody who has been in prison." Unlike those on parole or probation, exonerees lack access to government services like employment or housing assistance. Jeffrey Deskovic, wrongfully convicted of rape and murder, was turned down by reentry organizations because he was not on parole. "I was turned down by many prisoner reentry organizations because they said, 'Look, you're not on parole, you're not on probation,'" he said.
Compensation and Support
Thirty-eight states have laws compensating the wrongfully convicted, but it can take years to receive funds. Nonprofits like After Innocence connect exonerees with job training, housing, and medical care, and help clean up their records. Miles now runs Miles of Freedom in Dallas, aiding formerly incarcerated individuals. He highlights the lack of work history, viable skills, and training as common hurdles, along with employer reluctance to hire those with prison records.
Employment Statistics
No government statistics track exoneree employment rates, but studies show high unemployment among formerly incarcerated people. A 2018 Prison Policy Initiative study found a 27% unemployment rate, and a 2021 Bureau of Justice Statistics study found 33% of federal prisoners released in 2010 did not find work for four years. The national unemployment rate in March was 4.3%.
Personal Stories of Rebuilding
Deskovic used compensation received five years after release to start the Deskovic Foundation and later earned a law degree. He says exonerees still face the same struggles he did when applying for jobs like doughnut shop worker or reporter. Ben Spencer, exonerated after 34 years, applied at Amazon and as an airport baggage loader without success. He eventually got a job as a facilities engineer through someone interested in his case. "When I walked out of the jail, it was like waking up out of a coma or a bad dream," Spencer said. "I'm closer to where I wanna be now than I was."
Calls for Legislative Change
Eldan's organization helped pass a law in Delaware providing compensation, stipends, housing, food benefits, and health insurance for exonerees, along with a certificate of innocence. They are working with California and New Mexico to pass similar laws. Miles and Eldan urge more states to fund programs for exonerees, though Eldan notes, "It's hard to write into a statute something that actually translates into real benefit."
