Confession and Forgiveness
October 14, 2015
TimeWatch Editorial
The Innocence Project has said that as of September 3, 2015 there have been 330 post-conviction DNA exonerations in the United States. We are informed that the process of DNA exonerations began in 1989 and since the year 2000, there have been 263. The information provided is quite sobering, considering the fact that prior to 1989, there are no available statistics.
Since 1989, the report continues, there have been tens of thousands of cases where “suspects were identified and pursued—until DNA testing (prior to conviction) proved that they were wrongly accused.” According to the report posted on the “Innocence Project” Website entitled: “DNA Exonerations Nationwide” September 3, 2015.
Of the people who have been exonerated, the average number of years spent incarcerated is 14. The average age of these wrongfully convicted individuals is 26.5 years. The racial divide of those 330 individuals is 205 African Americans, 99 Caucasians, 24 Latinos, and 2 Asian Americans. The main reasons for the wrongful convictions are listed as eyewitness misidentification, improper forensic science, false (forced) confessions and incriminating statements, jailhouse informants and other incentivized witnesses.
By now I am sure that you have arrived at the conclusion that I will ultimately make an evaluation as to the motive and methods of our justice system. Your conclusion could not be farther from the truth. Approximately four years before DNA exonerations were statistically recorded; a young man named Glen Ford was convicted of murder and placed on death row.
Glenn Ford was born on October 29, 1949 was convicted of murder in 1984 and released from Angola Prison in March 2014 after a full exoneration. He died of cancer on June 29, 2015, having not received any compensation from the state for his wrongful conviction.
The unfairness of the state in dealing with this individual, in the first instance, a wrongful conviction, and in the second, failing to compensate, is still not the reason for this article. On October 11, 2015, CBSNews “Sixty Minutes” covered this story, but from an amazing angle. Marty Stroud, the prosecutor who put Glenn Ford on death row for the 1983 murder of a jeweler in Shreveport, Louisiana, apologized for what he had done. This was no ordinary ‘apology.’
Shroud describes himself as arrogant, judgmental, narcissistic and very full of himself. Here is how he put it in an interview he had with NPR's Audie Cornish:
“I was young, I was foolish. And I thought that when cases were brought to you, that they were properly made, that I was on God's side, that I was a Fire-Eater, that I believed that my job was to put criminals away and those that deserved the death penalty should get it and should be executed. Over the years, my view changed. I've come to the conclusion - it's my opinion and my opinion only - that there is no system that can be effective in order to ensure that only the guilty are convicted and the innocent go free.”
“I would apologize to Mr. Ford. I would wish him well and wish him the best in his efforts to get compensation and be compensated for the years that he's been deprived of. I would - I believe it's a horror story from beginning to end, and I played a part in that. I would ask for his forgiveness. However, if he did not offer forgiveness, I really couldn't blame him.”
He ultimately did meet with Mr. Glen Ford, and personally apologized. Mr. Ford said it was difficult to forgive, have spent 30 years on death row. He did say he was working on it. This is indeed a special man. Not many of us are willing to publicly admit to our failings, ask forgiveness and change our paths. Even when those around him insist that “he has nothing to apologize for” Mr. Shroud acknowledges his error, confesses it and asks forgiveness.
Of the 330 cases since 1989, I have not been aware of any other apology by any other prosecutor, witness or judge. Perhaps there have been, I, however, have not heard of any. Nevertheless, I do believe that today as I look within my own heart, the question I must ask is, have I sentenced or caused to be sentenced someone, anyone to a life of pain and hardship by some act that I have performed? There is someone who can and will gladly forgive. Mr. Shroud can talk with Him. He will not turn away.
Cameron Bowen.
