Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez was exonerated after spending nearly 24 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Velazquez, who co-stars in the A24 prison drama "Sing Sing," was wrongfully convicted of murdering a retired police officer in 1998. He was sentenced to 25 years to life despite not matching the suspect's description and having a corroborated alibi. Velazquez's journey to freedom began when "Dateline NBC" investigated his case in 2002, ultimately sparking a review by the Manhattan DA's Conviction Integrity Unit, though his conviction initially stood.
In 2021, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo granted Velazquez executive clemency, leading to his release after 23 years, eight months, and seven days of incarceration. President Joe Biden later apologized to Velazquez "on behalf of all society" during a criminal legal forum in 2022, although Velazquez admitted, "There's nothing they can do to give me back the 24 years I lost."
Velazquez, now a criminal legal activist, is a founding member of Voices From Within, a group that amplifies the voices of incarcerated people. Speaking about his exoneration, Velazquez said, "It's a lot deeper than discrimination. It comes down to diminishing a person's human dignity. I'm getting a part of my dignity back."
Velazquez found purpose in acting through the prison's Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, and he co-stars in "Sing Sing," a film based on real-life experiences of men finding meaning through theater in prison. Velazquez called the project "one of the most important things I've done in my life."
The cast and crew of "Sing Sing" rallied behind Velazquez during his court exoneration, and producers noted that this moment is "yet another step in his powerful journey." Velazquez remains committed to advocating for others still imprisoned unjustly. He hopes to continue his acting career, stating, "I'm doing what I'm passionate about. What I always said I was going to do when I was inside, I'm actually doing now."
Link: Variety
Comments