WRONGFULLY CONVICTED MAN SHOWS SURPRISING OPTIMISM

What would be going through your head if your final hearing in court for a crime you know you did not commit sentenced you to 30 years in prison? I got the privilege of hearing Terrill Swift speak, an innocent man who served 17 years in prison for the the rape and murder of a woman. After the police lied to him to get him down to the station, they then went on to lie again to get him to sign a false confession. He thought he was signing his innocence. Throughout Swift's entire presentation I was surprised with his positive outlook on the rest of his life. Instead of hating on the police, or trash talking a system that caused him this injustice, he spoke excitingly of the fact this that this tragic life experience showed him what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Locked up at the young age of 17, Swift now speaks to the youth teaching them their rights and most importantly to read the fine print. It's inspiring how someone can take something bad and see the good out of it. Swift is the perfect hope of a peaceful and progressive society. Instead of seeking revenge, he is focused on what he can do to prevent it from happening again to other people. It's nice to know he is not just stating a problem with our justice system, but actually working to stop the problem. I admire his selfless character and determination to help others even though he has been dealt a pretty bad hand himself.

Not that money is important compared to the years of life those wrongfully convicted victims have lost. No, that's priceless. But here are some interesting statistics to look at anyways. Wrongful convictions have cost Illinois taxpayers $214 Million in the past 35 years.