Conference encourages wrongfully convicted

Written by Shambhu Sharan   

Monday, 04 May 2009 08:57 PM

School of Social Work graduate student Crystal Joshua addresses the audience during A Day for Social Justice: The 2009 Dallas Interfaith Exoneree Conference held at Christian Chapel Temple of Faith in Dallas on Friday. Joshua and fellow graduate student Chasity Alexander, second from left, helped Jaimie Page, director of the Exoneree Project at the School of Social Work, far right, organize the event to educate the community about the service gaps that exonerees experience. (The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson)

Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins told exonerees wrongfully convicted of crimes not to forget their experiences. Rather,he said to use the memories of that time — some more than 25 years — to improve their lives and the lives of others also wrongfully convicted.

Guest speakers, faith leaders and exonerees spoke during A Day of Social Justice: The 2009 Exoneree Interfaith Conference at Christian Chapel Temple of Faith in Dallas on Friday. The purpose of the conference was to provide information about the wrongfully convicted.

“Be that same person that had to sit in that cell at night not knowing if you would ever be free,” Watkins said. “Continue to fight for an improvement in our justice system, not just in Dallas County, but all over the world.”

School of Social Work’s Exoneree Project Director Jaimie Page said she is proud to be associated with the project. She said her project provides services, training, support and education.

“I help exonerees get identification, health care if they are eligible, jobs and financial training,” Page said.

Steven Phillips, exonerated late last year after serving 24 years of a 30-year conviction, said it is literally impossible for society to construct a perfect justice system. Every system is capable of making mistakes. In the end, he said, it’s best to own up to the mistakes.

James Giles, charged with aggravated rape in 1983 and exonerated in 2007, said God was good to him in tough times.

“God has been good to us while we’ve been incarcerated,” he said.

Giles said he was blessed to have his sight and full function of his arms and legs when he was released.

The stories shared left some attendees humbled.

“This was an amazing experience,” said Crystal Joshua, a social work graduate student. “… This is a message that we all can learn from — to continue to get better. I have learned so much from these men, i.e., patience. This conference should be an annual event because its message was powerful. I feel like the best is yet to come for exonerees as they pose as vessels of faith.”