Minnesota owes Marvin Haynes for wrongful conviction

While headlines about the lawsuit discussed the gist of Haynes’ claim, it is also important to understand the totality of his request based on the actual lawsuit, which calls his wrongful conviction “a blatant miscarriage of justice.” “

“Plaintiff Marvin Haynes has been wrongfully imprisoned for nearly twenty years for a murder and assault he did not commit. He was wrongfully arrested as a teenager at just 16 years old, later imprisoned in adult prison in life-threatening conditions, and robbed of the formative years of his youth and young adulthood,” the lawsuit said. “Sir. Haynes was eventually acquitted and released at the age of thirty-six. During his wrongful incarceration, Mr. Haynes lost the opportunity to complete high school with his peers, see his maternal grandparents – with whom he was close – before they died, and spend valuable years with his mother before he had a stroke. she cannot speak or care for herself. During the years when most teenagers are finding their independence and defining their sense of self, Mr. Haynes was forced to spend his days worrying about his safety and fighting to prove his innocence. And while Mr. Haynes worked hard to obtain his high school diploma during his wrongful incarceration, any thoughts of further education had to be put aside in favor of tireless efforts to gain his freedom.”

There are “wounds,” mentioned in the lawsuit, in Haynes’ family that have changed him and those around him. Only Haynes and those close to him will ever understand that dynamic. But the $2 million he earned won’t erase those scars.

Unfortunately, it is also no guarantee that he will get what he asks for.

For those in Haynes’ position, the fight for compensation is often fruitless. A survey of 1,800 exempt persons showed that only 42% were compensated Most policy initiativea Missouri-based think tank.

Haynes has every right to live his life with a bitter attitude. He could be angry. And I think I would be too if I were in his shoes. But I also don’t know what it’s like to be Marvin Haynes. However, I wonder how he acquired the grace that allowed him to begin the journey to reclaim his life.