The Figgers Foundation provided Thomas James, a wrongfully convicted man, with essential technology and support to help him reintegrate into society, highlighting their commitment to improving the lives of those who have suffered wrongful convictions.
The Figgers Foundation has once again shown its dedication to improving the lives of those who have suffered. Thomas James was convicted of a murder that he had never done and sent to prison for three decades. He was arrested in January 1990 and convicted in 1991 for armed robbery, first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and armed burglary that he had never done. This incident shook him from head to toe, as he was to live in prison for the rest of his life.
Eventually, through advocacy by Attorney Natalie Figgers, his conviction ended on April 7, 2022, through advocacy, as there was no physical evidence linking him with the shooting, death, and robbery of Francis McKinnon. The attorney says,"he conviction weighed largely on testimony during the trial". An eyewitness, Dorothy Walton, said, "I am positive of it; I will never forget his face".
After his conviction, the Figgers Foundation became his very first support system. The Foundation supported him to establish him and help him thrive back into society, which has been greatly changed and advanced since his conviction. He was provided with the very first cell phone of his life and a tablet by the Figgers Foundation. He used to do a lot of research and everything he wanted to do through those gadgets. “The technology that the Figgers Foundation has provided me with, these gadgets, was essential to my transition back into society," said Thomas James.
He used those devices to find a job, and he was able to get one. These devices made his life practical, as he used to schedule, book appointments, and do everything he wanted to do using them. Things were greatly changed after his conviction, and the devices greatly helped him grow with modern times. Thomas James says, “It' hard for me to just sit down and try to put into words how impactful these things have had on my life. Because as a free person in today’s time, like in real-time, I don’t know what life is like without them”.
The Figgers Foundation also provided him with humanitarian aid and helped him thrive in society. The very first clothes he wore when he came back home after his conviction ended, the very first meal, and the very first watch as a civilian was provided to him by the Figgers Foundation. For a couple of weeks, the clothes he wore were also provided by the Figgers Foundation. It clearly shows the Foundation’s dedication to community support and help.
“The work that they do for the communities and the services that they provide, from a technical standpoint, is so essential to people being able to not get lost in the south, so to speak because most people can’t afford to keep up with real-time society,” says, Thomas James.
The Figgers Foundation is still dedicated to keeping people up-to-date with the most modern technology. The continuous updates in their system and their constant thinking for the societies and communities they serve prove their dedication and philanthropic efforts. They keep helping and serving the people who can’t afford to live in modern society.