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A New Florida Millionaire - Alan Crotzer

Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer." William Blackstone

In May of 2007, I wrote a blog about Alan Crotzer. Mr. Crotzer was wrongfully imprisoned for 24 years for a home invasion and the abduction and rape of two women...crimes he did not commit as proven by DNA evidence. He was released from prison in January of 2006 and has been waiting since then for compensation from the State of Florida. Alan Crotzer

DNA Evidence

You can read my original blog here for the back story.

Mr. Crotzer has finally received payment of $1.25 million from the State of Florida, equal to $50,000 per year, in exchange for the 24 years of his life spent in prison.

In addition to his millionaire status, Crotzer will also receive free tuition at any state college, university or career center.

Florida finally put to rights a most grievous wrong. Too bad it took them a couple of years to do it.

The Florida Legislature is currently considering a bill that would AUTOMATICALLY compensate some prisoners who have been proven innocent. We'll have to wait and see if that bill passes.

Although I am certain the United States has the very best and most fair criminal justice system in the world, it is not perfect and an alarming number of errors are made. For more information on this topic, check out the Innocence Project -or you can follow the link from my website at http://www.peggyedwards.com. To date, 215 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, thanks to the Innocence Project.

Mr. Crotzer, may God bless you and your family. I wish you well.

Peggy Edwards, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker - Westchase
(83) 787-2923
www.PeggyEdwards.com

Posted by Peggy Edwards, REALTOR®, Green Designation, Tampa, FL on 04/12/2008 10:30 PM

Comments (8)

alan crotzer, florida legislature, innocence project, wwwpeggyedwardscom

Originally posted at: Living and Working in Citrus Park: A New Florida Millionaire - Alan Crotzer

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8 Comments on A New Florida Millionaire - Alan Crotzer

APR

2008

Sometimes we are so quick to judge that we don't see (don't want to see) all the variables of a situation - criminal or otherwise.

The advent of forensic technologies and DNA testing has certainly set the record straight for many of those that have been falsely convicted.

I hope Mr. Crotzer is able to pull his life back together and move forward. His vindication should be empowering to him and his family.

Carol, thanks for your articulate response. I'm not shocked that they imprisoned the wrong person...but I am outraged that it took several years to compensate him. I, too, wish him the best as he moves forward out of the darkness and into the light. Thanks again!

I have been waiting to hear what they would do for him, it may be late but thank goodness they finally made the correct decision.

Hi Patrick, thanks for stopping by. I agree that it's better to do the right thing LATE than to not do it at all. Take care and hi to Brendan!

MAY

2008

Peggy, it is sad when people are imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. As you said, we have a good judicial system. But we still need to keep on working to improve it and we also need to be more expedient in correcting wrongs.