*Actor Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, known for his role in the drama feature “Sing Sing,” has been exonerated after spending nearly 24 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was wrongfully convicted in 1998 for the murder of a retired New York police officer and sentenced to 25 years to life, despite having an alibi, not matching the suspect description and no physical evidence linked him to the crime.
Velazquez’s exoneration took place in a downtown Manhattan courthouse on a Monday morning (Sept. 30),Variety reports. The path to exoneration began in 2002 when “Dateline NBC” investigated his case, uncovering new evidence that prompted the Manhattan District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit to review the conviction. In 2021, Velazquez received executive clemency from then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, leading to his release from Sing Sing prison after 23 years, eight months, and seven days of incarceration.
In October 2022, President Joe Biden apologized to Velazquez for his wrongful conviction during a criminal legal reform forum.
“There’s nothing that they can do to give me back the 24 years I lost, and all of the tribulations to incur as a result. There’s a spirit of vindication, but there’s still a lot of trauma that’s unaddressed — that the system refuses to address.” Velazquez told Variety ahead of the exoneration, noting that Biden’s apology “didn’t change my lifestyle.”
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“It’s a lot deeper than discrimination. It comes down to diminishing a person’s human dignity. I’m getting a part of my dignity back,” he said.
Velazquez began filming “Sing Sing” after his release from prison. The movie tells the story of an innocent man finding purpose in prison through theater.
The film’s producers said in a statement that Velazquez’s exoneration is “yet another step in his powerful journey. A moment he will no doubt use for the betterment of others, and to advocate for those still behind the walls. Because that’s just who he is.”
Velazquez is now an activist for criminal legal reform and a founding member of Voices From Within, which seeks to address the issues of crime and incarceration through the perspectives of those affected.
MSNBC’s upcoming docuseries “The Sing Sing Chronicles” will further explore Velazquez’s story.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: North Carolina Man Exonerated After 44 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment to Receive $25M Settlement | WATCH
