Wrongful conviction becomes actual innocence through exoneration
Christopher Shun Scott, the youngest of nine children was born October 9, 1970, to Mr. Oliver Earl Scott and Zeddie Mae Scott at Parkland Hospital. He grew up in Oak Cliff where he attended South Oak Cliff Senior High School. He dropped out in the 11th grade, but returned back to school and received his G.E.D in 2011. Christopher spent almost 16 years in prison, falsely accused and convicted of capital murder at the age of 27, leaving his two sons, Christopher (6 years old) and Dameon (5 years old) to be raised without their father. He was finally released from prison, and exonerated, in 2009, which was the first non-DNA exoneration case in the United States.
In 2010, Christopher founded a non-profit organization called the House of Renewed Hope where he is the President and Director of the Board. He, along with several other exonorees, now volunteer their time to investigate claims of innocence made by incarcerated individuals in the state of Texas. The purpose of the organization is to fight for social justice for the wrongfully accused and convicted through public education and presentations, information and publications about wrongful conviction, referral, assistance and support for newly released exonerees, fundraising to help wrongfully convicted persons obtain DNA testing and other services and legislative advocacy.
Mr. Scott planned his outcome from his uncomfortable state prison bed at the Coffield unit in East Texas, where he would one day work to save other wrongfully convicted individuals and open a men’s clothing store that would replicate his personal walk-in closet containing sleek, stylish and dapper attire. He used the money received from the state as compensation for his wrongful conviction to open Christopher’s Men Wear, in the Uptown Village at Cedar Hill in 2011.
Since his release, Christopher committed his time, fame and money fixing the flawed justice system that came close to destroying his life, and his and other individuals’ ongoing work to expose and fight injustice and help end the state’s embarrassing record of wrongful convictions earned him the exceptional recognition as Texan of the Year in 2012.
Christopher and other exonorees work diligently to make a difference in the justice system here in the state of Texas with wrongful convictions and raise awareness with the injustices of the system. He knows he won’t be able to help exonerate every case he is involved in, but he has surely created a movement, which is being recognized by many across the nation.
More of his story is found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Program by Rotarian Kirk Noaker