LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- No amount of money can make up for spending time in prison after a wrongful conviction.
But, some Kentucky lawmakers have a plan to help right the justice systems wrongs.
In 2005 when Johnetta Carr was 16, her boyfriend was strangled to death outside of his Louisville apartment.
In 2005 when Johnetta Carr was 16, her boyfriend was strangled to death outside of his Louisville apartment. She was wrongfully convicted for his death. (WDRB photo)
"I went in an interrogation room innocent at 16 years old, left there 11.5 hours, I was verbally abused," Carr said.
Carr was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his murder.
"My only hope was that I didn't do this," Carr said.
She was released after four years and served parole for 8.5 years. She's since been pardoned because of what she said was misconduct by investigators.
"You can't get time back, you can't get your teenage years back," Carr said. "You can't get life back."
In 1981, a 22-year-old woman was abducted from a Louisville bar then beaten and raped. The woman drew an image of the suspect and two days later, Michael Vonallman went into that same bar.
"I ordered a cold beer and had no idea I'm being look at as a suspect in this," he said.
Michael Vonallman was wrongfully convicted for a kidnapping and rape charge. (WDRB photo)
Vonallmen was arrested for the crime and sentenced to 30 years. He served 11 years and was on parole for 16 years.
"I'm unable to accurately describe the pain," Vonallmen said.
Since 1989, at least 22 people have been wrongfully incarcerated in Kentucky. Kentucky is 1 of 12 states that doesn't compensate exonerated citizens.
Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, is proposing a bill to change that. House Bill 178 would compensate wrongfully convicted Kentuckians for those lost years.
It would pay:
- $65,000 per year of wrongful imprisonment
- $25,000 per year on parole
- $75,000 per year on death row
It would also pay for exonerees to go to college in Kentucky, their health insurance and attorney fees.
"It's not just police have made a mistake, they have to prove they weren't involved in any way," Nemes said.
To be eligible, exonerees need a certificate of innocence from a judge and if they win a civil suit for misconduct, the payment would be lowered.
Since being released, Carr has had two children and is an advocate for justice. Vonallmen is a plumber and enjoys catching up on missed time with family.
"It should pass without hesitation," Vonallmen said.
Nemes doesn't expect opposition and hopes the bill will get passed this session.
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