Help Herb Rebuild After Wrongful Incarceration

Background:

Herb is a 55-year-old black man from Philadelphia who was falsely accused and jailed for 8 months for a crime he did not commit. The Philadelphia Police Department’s utter incompetence cost Herb everything. While incarcerated and awaiting trial, Herb lost his job, his home, and his son, who was murdered. The Defender Association of Philadelphia worked tirelessly to prove Herb’s innocence, and they succeeded: Herb was released from jail on November 16th, 2024. However, Herb now faces immense grief due to the time and freedom he lost – his final months with his son, his livelihood, and his basic human rights. Please consider donating to assist Herb as he reclaims his life, makes up for lost wages, finds a new place to stay, and gets back on his feet. Any contribution is deeply appreciated.

Herb’s Story:

Amidst a string of car robberies in North Philly, one witness called police to report that she had attempted and failed to stop a black man breaking into her car. She clearly stated that she did not see this man’s face at the time of the encounter. Despite the witness not being able to describe the suspect beyond “a black man in his 50’s-60’s, who was “a little heavy set,” the police moved forward in cultivating a lineup. They selected Herb for the lineup due solely to the fact that he had been convicted of a similar crime more than eight years prior. As the oldest and largest black man chosen for the lineup, it was no surprise that the witness identified Herb out of the group. He was arrested accordingly.

Herb’s alibi and the evidence supporting it were abundantly clear. Herb was at work at the time of the robbery. He had clocked in and his cell phone was there with him. Cell tower data confirmed this, as did his boss. Regardless, the Philadelphia Police Department completely obfuscated their duty to investigate as Herb sat behind bars. Moreover, the robber had taken the witness’s bag, including her credit cards, and there was footage of the robber – not Herb – using those stolen credit cards at a local Walmart. The Defender Association compiled this evidence for the judge in Herb’s case, who recognized the situation for what it was: a miscarriage of justice.

While Herb is now freed after 8 months in jail, his life will never be the same. He will never again see his son, who was murdered during Herb’s incarceration. He no longer has his job nor his home. He will also continue to live with the trauma of a false accusation and wrongful incarceration. Please consider helping Herb recover from this injustice with a donation toward his food, shelter, and lost wages. He is a valued member of the community and we want to uplift him in this time of need.