A Day in the Life: The Long-Term Effects and Psychological Aftermath of Wrongful Conviction

Abstract

Exonerees often return to their communities only to be shunned and stigmatized, sacrifice their assets in order to fund legal battles, endure structural difficulties getting a job, and face other challenges that accompany their new position in society. This report will highlight the impact of a wrongful conviction on individuals’ lives, relationships, and sense of self. Particular attention will be paid to the impact of the social stigma on the individual’s efforts to reintegrate into a changed society, of the psychological consequences of imprisonment, and of the importance of support resources to mitigate some of the issues faced upon release. While an examination of life after release relies most heavily on first-hand accounts, a comprehensive understanding requires that the outsider to draw from various areas of research and inquiry: the reality of trauma and recovery management, the impact of long-term incarceration on innocent prisoners, and the process of parolee reentry.