Exonerees are amongst the most powerful sources of support for each other, but rarely do they have the opportunity to connect with fellow exonerees. There is no substitute for sharing a life-threatening experience with someone who has been in the same position as you, someone who really knows what it is like to live a nightmare that is unfathomable for most. Because exonereesare spread out across America and have neither the funds nor the means to contact other exonerees, the exonerated are deprived of the camaraderie, support, and opportunity afforded by an active network of the exonerated.
The Life After Exoneration Program has built a network of exonerees, paired recently released exonerees with those exonerated some time ago, built a system of mentors and organized periodic gatherings of exonerees around the country, along with creating an online community of exonerees.
The Life After Exoneration Program launched the first operational exoneree-led organization- the Council of the Wrongfully Convicted (CWC) - by convening a three-day meeting of California’s wrongfully convicted and supporting their efforts to form an autonomous council. The CWC is an exoneree network advocating for reform in criminal procedures to reduce the risk of wrongful convictions and promoting the right of the exonerated to just financial compensation in the wake of their devastating ordeal with the criminal justice system.
The first Men’s Healing Circle for Northern California’s exonerees, with professionally guided monthly sessions, was held in 2008 with the support of the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Violence Prevention. The meetings provided a rare opportunity forsustained exoneree peer support and guided exploration in a supportiveatmosphere. The Circle also provided valuable insight into designing exoneree services by reinforcing the exoneree’s need for basic financial stability as a pre-requisite for long-term psychological healing.
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