# Exonerated man looks to rebuild after 16 years of lost time in prison – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

> Brandon Pugh was exonerated after serving 16 years in a Georgia prison for a crime he did not commit. His release has been followed by challenges in rebuilding his life, including reconnecting with fa…

**Published**: 2026-07-07
**Source**: https://gps.press/gps-news/exonerated-man-looks-to-rebuild-after-16-years-of-lost-time-in-prison-atlanta-journal-constitution/
**Author**: Georgia Prisoners' Speak

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Brandon Pugh was exonerated after serving 16 years in a Georgia prison for a crime he did not commit. His release has been followed by challenges in rebuilding his life, including reconnecting with family, accessing healthcare, and finding employment. Georgia has established a new pathway for exonerees to seek compensation from the state, a process Pugh intends to pursue. The article notes that obtaining that compensation takes time, leaving wrongfully convicted individuals to navigate reentry into society in the interim.