Still no freedom

      Imagine yourself being released from jail after a period of 20 years.  The first thing that comes to mind is where to go?  Will people remember you?  Does everything still work the same?  With all these questions rummaging through your mind, you know first things first, you need to find a job.
      Interview number one does not go so well, you are nervous, you are just getting back out there, no worries.  Interviews number two through four are satisfactory, but number six is perfect.  Perfect job, perfect benefits, and you fit the qualifications perfectly. Uh-oh there goes that background check and your prison record pops up! One problem you were found innocent. Why is this falsified record still appearing?
      Kerry Cook spent twenty two years of his life on death row for a murder that he did not commit.  He was accused of the death and rape of a 21 year old woman.  After four trials he was found innocent in 1999, yet he is still listed as a murderer in the state of Texas.  It is now the year of 2012, mathematically speaking Mr.Cook was released 13 years ago.  He is still suffering.  He is unable to get a job or sign leases.  He suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after being raped in prison. It is like he never left prison.
       I came across a National News article that mentioned three men with similar stories to Kerrys'.  What I found interesting is that there is an Innocence project that compensates you monetarily for the time you spent in prison.  For example, Mr.Taylor, a man who suffered in prison even though he was innocent,"can collect the maximum amount allowed under North Carolina law, $750,000, for his 17 years in prison." Although this is in consideration of those who suffered, it still does not fix things.  No amount of money can remove the post traumatic stress that Kerry is experiencing. I am not discrediting the program but it is not even in full effect.  There are 23 states who do not offer compensation.
       Yes, they help you get on your feet and even at times provide job training, but what happens when you get to that job?  If hired, you are stereotyped, treated awkwardly by your co-workers.  If not hired, you are still stereotyped, no one wants to hire a felon.
       According to www.innocenceproject.org, in 2007  "The Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice approved bills that would significantly improve the state's justice system. The bills, introduced by Senator Rodney Ellis (the chairman of the Innocence Project Board of Directors), would create an innocence commission, improve eyewitness identification procedures and increase compensation for the wrongly convicted."

      All that is wonderful, there is still no mention of clearing their record.  I understand that after criminals are released they are still listed as a felon, as they should be.  But it is not fair for someone to suffer for something they did not do.  The majority of Kerry's life was already taken away, the least that can be done is provide him with a fresh slate.