August 10, 2011

Life After Death Row

For many former inmates, the walk beyond bars can be tougher than it seems

081011_Former_Inmate_617x347 Aryon Williams, Jr. was released from death row in July 2011 after serving two decades behind bars.
AZPM

A 1992 first-degree murder conviction. A 1993 death sentence.

Inmate Aryon Williams, Jr. never thought he would be able to walk as a free man again. But five years after his conviction, new documents and a lawyer whose passion it is to help prisoners like Williams combined to give him a glimpse of hope and a new chance at life.

The man who would be living that life was a different one. Twenty-one years in prison, 14 of them in solitary confinement, had made it difficult for Williams to touch anyone.

"You get used to people not touching you," says Williams. "It takes a little bit to get used to."

The Phoenix metropolitan area has changed in those 21 years, in everything from its geography to people's fashions.

Apprehensive about these changes, Williams makes his way towards his first interaction with his family. Knowing that his mother is "clingy," he knows that this interaction will be difficult, but that it is something good.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona