Stateline man wrongly convicted of murder speaks out to Conviction Integrity Unit

(WIFR) – In 1995, a McLean County jury found Alan Beaman guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend two years earlier.

He spent the next 13+ years of his life behind bars as an innocent man.

Now he hopes a new nationwide initiative called the Conviction Integrity Unit can prevent innocent people from being wrongfully convicted for crimes they didn't commit.

“It would be a very, very good thing for Illinois and a very good thing for taxpayers to not waste money on lawsuits that shouldn't be there,” Beaman said.

Beaman says this new unit is an important step in putting the right person behind bars. He hopes actions speak louder than words.

“The bad actors don’t want to admit they’re wrong. As a result, the exonerees continue to be victims even after their release,” says Beaman.

Now Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul wants to fix that. On Tuesday, he created the Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate claims of actual innocence in violent crime cases.

“Wrongful convictions destroy lives, weaken trust in our criminal justice system, and endanger victims and public safety by allowing true perpetrators to get away with impunity,” said Raoul.

The program is used only when new and credible evidence has been discovered or when new technologies allow investigators to test or retest old evidence.

“I look forward to the work this unit will do to restore trust in our justice system and provide assistance when needed,” says Raoul.

Beaman says if that had been true at his sentencing, things would have been different.

“They have not attempted to further investigate this crime and refuse to admit my innocence,” Beaman said.

If the person is found, innocent investigators will try to find the real perpetrator. In the Beaman case, the suspect is not behind bars.

Although he can't reclaim this lost time, Beaman says he will continue by engaging in police training, advocacy and more to tell his story.

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