Support for Clarence Harrison

My name is Clarence Harrison, and I was wrongfully convicted for over 17 years. On August 31, 2004 I finally walked out of prison a free man after I was exonerated by the Georgia Innocence Project.

Many factors contributed to my wrongful conviction - including invalid and overstated forensic science and eyewitness misidentification. I was sentenced to life in prison + 20 years. Eventually, I was the first person to be exonerated by GIP in 2004 after they secured new DNA testing proved with no doubt that the DNA in the case could not have come from me.

I am grateful to have had their support and to have served as a mentor to other exonerees over the years. However, it has not been an easy path. I was disabled after a car accident in 2010 and have been unemployed ever since. Yet I am unable to receive disability benefits, food stamps, or any other government support. With no income it has been very difficult to cover my living expenses, especially when the government says I don’t qualify for retirement benefits because I couldn’t contribute to any retirement funds while wrongfully incarcerated, even though I worked every day at the prison for no pay.

My car is now broken down, and I am struggling to pay for my basic living expenses like groceries, rent, and clothes. It feels like I'm in prison again because I am confined to my home and can't go out and share my story or engage in the community like I used to without the financial support I need to survive.

August 31, 2022 will be my 18th year of so-called freedom. Any donation would be greatly appreciated and help me truly be free again.