Exonerated man Michael Sullivan awarded $1m after 27 years in prison

Michael Sullivan, wrongfully imprisoned for over 27 years for a 1985 murder he consistently denied committing, has been awarded $1 million in compensation following his exoneration through new DNA evidence.

Convicted and sentenced to life without parole, Sullivan, now 61, was released in 2013 after advances in DNA technology proved his innocence.

Although a Massachusetts court awarded him $13 million in damages earlier this month, state laws cap compensation for wrongful convictions at $1 million. Sullivan expressed that while the financial compensation is significant, it cannot replace the years he lost or the grief of losing his mother and four siblings during his incarceration.

“This money will never restore the time taken from me or bring back my loved ones,” Sullivan said in a statement. His case highlights ongoing debates around fair compensation for wrongful convictions.