Michael Sullivan, a 61-year-old man from Massachusetts, has been awarded $1 million in compensation after spending 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Convicted in 1985 and sentenced to life without parole, Sullivan’s conviction was overturned in 2013 when new DNA evidence proved his innocence.
Earlier this month, a Massachusetts court ruled in favor of $13 million in damages for Sullivan. However, state regulations capped the compensation he could receive at $1 million.
During his imprisonment, Sullivan faced profound personal losses, including the deaths of his mother and four siblings. In a statement, he expressed that while the monetary award is appreciated, it cannot compensate for the years he lost or the loved ones he was unable to mourn.
Sullivan’s case highlights the tragic consequences of wrongful convictions, as well as ongoing debates over fair compensation for exonerees in the United States.
