California has agreed to pay $25 million to a man who spent nearly four decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, after DNA evidence cleared him of a 1983 murder conviction, Reuters reported.
Maurice Hastings, now 69, was sentenced to life without parole in 1983 for the killing of a woman in Los Angeles. He had always insisted he was innocent. Despite his appeals over the years, his conviction stood until new DNA testing linked the crime to another man with a history of similar offenses. Hastings was freed in 2022 and formally exonerated.
This week, a judge approved a $25 million settlement in Hastings’ lawsuit against the state. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will pay the amount in annual installments.
Hastings’ attorneys argued that prosecutors had withheld crucial evidence and relied on unreliable testimony during his trial. His release, they said, underscored the failures of the criminal justice system and the importance of post-conviction DNA testing in preventing wrongful imprisonment.
Speaking after the ruling, Hastings said the settlement was a step toward justice but could never fully compensate for the 38 years he lost behind bars. “No sum of money can replace the time taken from me,” he said.
According to Reuters, wrongful conviction settlements have become more frequent across the United States as states respond to demands for accountability and reform. California law allows compensation for those wrongfully imprisoned, and Hastings’ payout ranks among the largest in the state’s history.
Legal experts noted that the case highlights the need for stronger safeguards in criminal prosecutions, including access to DNA testing and stricter requirements for disclosing evidence. Advocacy groups added that Hastings’ story reflects the broader challenge of addressing miscarriages of justice and restoring public trust in the system.
FBC
