Freed La. inmate helps others wrongfully convicted

Years ago, John Thompson's life was drastically altered by two unrelated crimes that took place in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - John Thompson thought his problems were over when he was cleared of the 1984 murder he had been charged with and freed from prison. After 18 years in Louisiana State Penitentiary _ 16 of them on death row where he survived seven execution dates _ he was ready to get back to his life.

But for Thompson, and the 24 other Louisiana prisoners exonerated since 1990, that was much more difficult than expected.

Now, five years after he walked away from Angola, Thompson is launching Resurrection After Exoneration, a program to provide medical and mental help, job skills, education and other services for the wrongfully convicted.

The center will open on Tuesday and is designed to provide financial, emotional and job skills needed to live a successful post-prison life. It will also provide immediate help by giving those released a place to stay while they get on their feet.

``When you first get out, there are lots of people around you, talking to you, taking your picture, congratulating you,'' Thompson said on Friday. ``But the next day you are on your own and trying to figure out what to do, and that is not easy.''

Resurrection After Exoneration, called RAY, is the first program especially for exonerated prisoners in the country, said Emily Maw, director of the Innocence Project New Orleans.

Thompson received a $60,000 grant from Echoing Green, a New York-based foundation, for the project.

``Most people don't have much family left, don't really have a place to go,'' Thompson said. ``So we're going to provide that.''

Those who stay in the transitional housing will be asked to set aside at least 25 percent of their paychecks. After a year, savings will be matched to help them find housing.

``The four bedrooms we have are already assigned,'' Thompson said. ``We already need another building. People want this help. They sure don't want to go back to prison.''

Louisiana has the Innocence Compensation Fund, which started in 2005 and gives up to $150,000 to the exonerated, along with job training, counseling services and college tuition. The application process is long and difficult, Maw said, and few have received the money so far.

Thompson left Angola with a garbage bag filled with his belongings and $10. He quickly landed a job with The Center for Equal Justice after his release.

Thompson, 45, said he saw training programs for everyone from homeless to AIDS victims when he first left Angola but nothing that dealt with the specific problems he faced. He believed it was something that would be in more demand as exonerations rose nationwide.

``You're better off being convicted for something you did than something you didn't do,'' Thompson said. ``They have all kinds of programs out here for ex-cons. There's nothing for those of us that did the time but not the crime.''

Innocence Project currently lists 222 people nationally who have been cleared by DNA alone.

``People who are exonerated definitely struggle,'' Maw said. ``They have all the regular problems a longtime prisoner has on getting out, and an additional set of problems. They suffer a lot of anger, a condition a lot like post-traumatic syndrome.''

Tri-parish Times.com (last updated on October 20, 2008)