Terrill Swift

Terrill Swift was a member of the "Englewood Four," a group of men who were wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of a Chicago woman in 1994. They had each "accidentally" confessed to the murder, sending them each to jail. Terrill Swift along with the other three males were all exonerated.

At first, I thought, "How can someone accidentally confess or give a fake confession? What idiot would do this?!" I didn't understand. Yes, they obviously were under pressure, but it didn't make sense until Swift told his story. He was manipulated into signing a sheet of paper which stated the confession. They would not allow him to go home, until he signed it. So he obviously did. . . . without reading what it was. Swift emphasized that this was his biggest mistake, that it cost him fifteen years of his life and advised us to READ THE FINE PRINT from then on. He didn't exactly confess himself, but was rather tricked. I find it so cruel that someone would go to these measures just to convict a man of a name that had been mentioned by one the other three members of the "Englewood Four." Realistically, I know that I will not read all the FINE PRINT so to speak, but I will be more conscious of this type of manipulation. I will look at the contract before signing, but I know that I will not take the time and be patient to read everything. I hope my peers learn from his mistake and I hope that they will not make a silly mistake, costing them years of their life in prison.

I reflect upon what Swift said, and I am still awe stricken. I never realized how much the world changes in fifteen years, and I never realized that that is almost how many years I have been alive. In the past fifteen years so much has happened. In 2000, a new millenium began. In 2001, the Twin Towers and the United States were attacked. Troops were sent to Iraq and recently came back. The first iPod and touch screen were made. Apple macs along with other high-tech materials were introduced. The first black president was elected in the US. Osama Bin Laden was caught. To come back to a completely different lifestyle is challenging, especially on parole. He explained that if he was two steps away from his destination, he would be arrested or questioned. To not have the freedom to explore the new world is very hard. And to also have to re establish social skills makes it even harder. Swift lost 15 years of his life, along with opportunities all because of a signature. I hope to learn from Swift and to value each day I live in society.