17 years, 9 months. That’s how long Clarence Harrison spent in prison for a crime DNA proved he didn’t commit. A flawed photo lineup. Unreliable eyewitness testimony. Evidence that could have freed him immediately—but DNA testing didn’t exist in 1987. Harrison became the first person exonerated by the Georgia Innocence Project in 2004. An estimated 2,000 innocent people remain in Georgia prisons today. Harrison’s case isn’t unusual—it’s what the system produces. 1
The Wrongful Conviction
The case against Harrison:
- 1986 crime—kidnapping, rape, robbery in Decatur
- Photo lineup identification—from victim and tipster
- No physical evidence—stolen watch never recovered
- Life sentence—March 1987
Harrison lived near the crime scene. That proximity, plus a tip about someone selling a watch, led to his identification. The prosecution relied entirely on eyewitness testimony.
DNA Exoneration
Modern science proved his innocence:
- 2003—Harrison wrote to Georgia Innocence Project
- Preserved evidence—rape kit slides thought destroyed were found
- DNA testing—definitively excluded Harrison
- August 31, 2004—released after 17 years, 9 months
Law students from Georgia State and Emory discovered the preserved evidence. Without their work, Harrison might still be incarcerated. 2
The System’s Flaws
Harrison’s case exposes problems:
- Eyewitness testimony—causes 70% of wrongful convictions
- Photo lineup procedures—prone to manipulation and error
- Limited evidence preservation—DNA testing impossible without samples
- No compensation system—until after high-profile exonerations
Georgia eventually awarded Harrison $1 million over 20 years. Money cannot replace 18 years of freedom, family connections lost, and psychological trauma endured.
Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails supporting wrongful conviction reform in Georgia. The free tool crafts personalized messages to Georgia lawmakers—no experience required.
Demand:
- Access to DNA testing for all claims of innocence
- Reformed eyewitness identification procedures
- Evidence preservation requirements
- Support services for exonerees
Further Reading
- Wrongfully Convicted: Georgia’s Broken Justice System and Its Innocent Victims
- A System Built for Failure: Georgia’s Parole Crisis
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
