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CHICAGO, CA— When he was 17 years old, Troshawn McCoy was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In 2017, after being incarcerated for more than 20 years, McCoy’s conviction (along with those of three other men) was overturned, leading to a lawsuit in which the City of Chicago settled with the four men for a combined $50 million.
McCoy was the first of four teenagers arrested in Chicago in 1995 for a double murder and robbery. Despite the lack of physical or forensic evidence linking the teens to the crime, all were convicted and given lengthy prison sentences.
“My experience serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform and the human capacity to overcome profound adversity,” McCoy said.
Chicago’s legacy of overturned convictions and hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements has led the Innocence Project to nickname Illinois the “wrongful conviction capital of the country.” But no amount of money can compensate McCoy and other wrongfully imprisoned people for the years they’ve lost.
“While my settlement has provided financial stability, it underscores a poignant reality: material wealth cannot reclaim lost time,” McCoy commented. “I cannot buy back the 22 years taken from me.”
McCoy’s harrowing story underscores the personal and familial toll of wrongful imprisonment and the systemic failures in the criminal justice system. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and strength, he is working toward rebuilding his life while fighting for others facing similar circumstances.
And McCoy’s case isn’t an isolated one. Chicago has a long and troubling history of corrupt policing, particularly in cases involving young Black men. According to the Innocence Project, 540 wrongfully convicted people in Illinois have been exonerated — more than in any other state.
“I don’t know how it feels to be in your twenties, fall in love, dream of building a family, and create the stepping stones for your future,” McCoy said. “All of that was taken away from me as I sat in a cold jail cell, knowing the truth, but being unable to do anything about it. I was robbed of my young adulthood, almost like a time glitch, where you look up and your life is just starting at 37 years old.”
