(By Lillian Gleeson ‘25, staff writer)
A recent guest speaker discussed his experience of being wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for over 20 years.
Johnny Berry was 16 years old when he was convicted of murder and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The conviction was based on rescinded witness testimony and testimony of an alleged co-conspirator, whose false statements allowed him to receive leniency.
“Wrongful convictions are not a rare mistake,” Berry said. “They are a systematic failure that ruins lives.”
Berry would spend the next 23 years of his life behind bars until his release in 2019. Berry credits Justice & Mercy, Inc. and the Innocence Project for helping to secure his exoneration.
“The difference between a life stolen and a life saved is often whether or not someone is willing to fight for you,” Berry said.
Justice & Mercy, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based non-profit organization, raised over $200,000 to help overturn Berry’s conviction. The organization began working on Berry’s case in 2001, yet the case was not overturned until 2018.
Though Berry has been released from prison and has regained his freedom, he is still dealing with the effects of incarceration.
“I lost time,” Berry said. “I lost family and so much more. But I never lost my truth.”
Berry’s story is not unique. An estimated 3,000 wrongfully convicted people are still incarcerated in Pennsylvania. However, the ACLU reports that Pennsylvania is one of only 12 states without a formal process for restitution of wrongful convictions. This makes it difficult for Berry and other victims of the legal system to be compensated for their losses.
“Wrongful convictions are not rare,” Dr. Terrence Alladin, associate professor of criminal justice, said. “They destroy families. They destroy faith in our legal system.”
Since Berry’s release, he has appreciated the simple joys in life, such as sitting in his backyard or taking care of his father. He has focused on advocating for other cases of wrongful convictions and does not take his freedom for granted.
“So many people are left behind bars who are innocent, and I made it out,” Berry said.