Freedom's price

EDITOR'S NOTE: This editorial has been changed to correct the county the murder occurred in.

A year ago, Joshua Kezer was released from prison after serving nearly 15 years for a Scott County murder he always maintained he did not commit. A judge set Kezer free after finding prosecutors withheld key evidence.

But life after prison hasn't been easy for Kezer. He works in Columbia, Mo., as a painter but spends much of his time speaking to groups about his experience and about the lack of compensation or social services for inmates like himself who are exonerated.

Some states do provide assistance in such cases. In Missouri, wrongly convicted individuals who are cleared by DNA evidence are entitled to $50 for each day of incarceration. In overturning Kezer's conviction, the judge did not rely on DNA evidence. Therefore, he isn't entitled to any state-authorized compensation.

As Kezer points out when he speaks to groups, inmates who were guilty of their crimes receive more help from the state than he gets. Felons who are on parole get job training and other benefits not available to Kezer.

Of the hundreds of inmates who have been exonerated nationwide, many get no help in returning to productive lives. The Kezer case is a good reason to explore what options should be made available.