So, Somebody Got Wrongly Convicted And Jailed . . .

[moe.ron]

then was released because he was found innocence. So, what did the British government do? Well, they send him a bill for 80,000 Pounds for his stay at the prison.

Blunkett charges miscarriage of justice victims ‘food and lodgings’
By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor

WHAT do you give someone who’s been proved innocent after spending the best part of their life behind bars, wrongfully convicted of a crime they didn’t commit?

An apology, maybe? Counselling? Champagne? Compensation? Well, if you’re David Blunkett, the Labour Home Secretary, the choice is simple: you give them a big, fat bill for the cost of board and lodgings for the time they spent freeloading at Her Majesty’s Pleasure in British prisons.

On Tuesday, Blunkett will fight in the Royal Courts of Justice in London for the right to charge victims of miscarriages of justice more than £3000 for every year they spent in jail while wrongly convicted. The logic is that the innocent man shouldn’t have been in prison eating free porridge and sleeping for nothing under regulation grey blankets.

Blunkett’s fight has been described as “outrageous”, “morally repugnant” and the “sickest of sick jokes”, but his spokesmen in the Home Office say it’s a completely “reasonable course of action” as the innocent men and women would have spent the money anyway on food and lodgings if they weren’t in prison. The government deems the claw-back ‘Saved Living Expenses’.

Link To The Rest Of The Story

[Lady Pi Phi]

Is he serious?!!!

My god! What is the world coming to?

I think Blunkett needs a good swift kick in the arse!

[DeltAlum]

How much does it cost for the two bedroom cell and gourmet meals?

[bruinaphi]

This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever read. All of this person's civil liberties were taken away for years and years. His reputation has been destroyed, and he hasn't had the same opprotunities to live. He is the one who should be compensated by the government. If this were taking place in the US I can only imagine the protests that would take place.

[Kevin]

In my state, someone that proves they were wrongly convicted can actually seek damages from the government for being wrongly locked up. There's a cap of course, but the English system is ridiculous.

[Intense1920]

This ridiculous. It isn't like this person CHOSE to go to hang out in jail, he was wrongly imprisoned. How does Blunkett justify in his mind that this person owes the government something? *smh*

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by ktsnake
In my state, someone that proves they were wrongly convicted can actually seek damages from the government for being wrongly locked up. There's a cap of course, but the English system is ridiculous.

No, I believe you can try and seek damages for being wrongly convicted. You can in Canada, and our system is modeled after theirs.
He is trying to start charging the wrongly convicted. I don't see him winning his case.

[decadence]

Originally posted by ktsnake: In my state, someone that proves they were wrongly convicted can actually seek damages from the government for being wrongly locked up. There's a cap of course, but the English system is ridiculous.

I read the article and the idea is uhhh 'interesting' to say the least! Everyone mentioned in the article like ktsnake says though was wrongly convicted and can and did seek and receive damages from the government for it all; and that is what the money is being deducted from (the payouts).

[James]

I could see the United States doing this easily . . except . . we don't generally award compensation to the wrongly convicted . . . I think we have good faith laws that protect the government from people that are released over issues like DNA testing.

[CatStarESP4]

Originally posted by Intense1920
This ridiculous. It isn't like this person CHOSE to go to hang out in jail, he was wrongly imprisoned. How does Blunkett justify in his mind that this person owes the government something? *smh*

I agree!

It is absolutely obscene!

[deuika]

OM FRICCING GOODNESS!!!!
That's worse than our government charging people who come back from war for that sad ass jello they serve in the hospital.

This is my "Proud To Be An American" moment. They don't pay you for all the wrongly convicted people they have in prison, but at least the taxpayers get the bill for the fuuc up, not you.

[XOMichelle]

It's kind of like putting people in debt in poor houses.... Brits!!

[decadence]

Originally posted by XOMichelle: It's kind of like putting people in debt in poor houses.... Brits!!

Uhm let's not have racism please.

[James]

I think thats more nationalism . . hating other countries is still in vogue . . everyone (Except me) hates the french . . .

Originally posted by decadence
Uhm let's not have racism please.

[decadence]

Orig. posted by James: I think thats more nationalism . . hating other countries is still in vogue . . everyone (Except me) hates the french.

I'm not sure about that. And on the French, that's different - they put mayonnaise on their fries and that's just wrong.