Re-entry Relief for Anthony "Tony" Mills

Anthony "Tony" Mills, who has been wrongfully incarcerated for 18 years, was released from a Maryland prison on Friday, Oct. 25. Tony was convicted in 2007 of an apartment robbery that occurred in 2002 - five full years prior - despite overwhelming evidence indicating that he could not possibly have been at the scene of the crime.

Tony came home through parole, a form of early prison release, after Princeton University and Georgetown Law students reinvestigated his case and supported his release through the Making an Exoneree program. To learn more about their ongoing fight for his innocence, you can watch their documentary here.

Tony was raised by a single mother who instilled in him lessons of diligence, faith, and a commitment to education, all of which he maintained in prison despite this wrongful conviction. At Jessup Correctional Institution, he was a skilled and respected employee at the MCE sewing plant and a leader in his religious community.

A 65-year-old man devoted to his family, Tony now seeks a simple life, hoping first and foremost to spend time with his children, many of whom he was only able to communicate with over the phone while in prison. He plans to work a steady job and be able to jog in the open air, one of his greatest joys.

The injustices that come with a wrongful conviction, though, don't end with incarceration. Returning citizens, particularly those still on parole, face barriers to housing and employment while also readjusting to everyday life, which can create significant financial and emotional burdens. These funds will thus support many of Tony's basic needs as he builds the stable, dignified life he has worked towards.