Dallas is making the news by leading the country in the number of exonerated prisoners freed due to new methods in DNA testing. The latest Charles Allen Chatman, was released after serving almost 27 years in prison for a rape crime he didn’t commit. He is one of fifteen former convicts from Dallas County to be freed based on DNA testing since 2001. District Attorney Craig Watkins has made this his priority named the “Innocence Project”.

I was listening to a radio interview with Watkins and I was impressed with his plan to make the system better. He has received a lot of criticism for is actions, but has stated his job is to seek justice for the people. If it means going back to verify the innocence of a few convicted prisoners, then he believes it is necessary. He said the systems has flaws and hopes to fix as much of it as he can.

Chatman has lost 27 years of his life and is now 47 years old. He has a lot to catch up on and I hope he gets the help he needs to reenter society.