Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Miles.
Hi Richard, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
According to the National Registry of Exoneration, I’m one of the 3,512 individuals that served time for a crime I did not commit. If you would have asked me this question 30 years ago, I would have said that I was the only person incarcerated as an innocent person. However, over time, I’ve learned that my experience and journey wasn’t an anomaly. According to some experts working in the space of wrongful arrest and incarceration, more than 10% of America’s prison population is innocent. I truly view myself as one of the lucky ones to have made it – (Most richly blessed). I grew up in Oak Cliff, which is a community in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from high school and in preparation for college, I moved out of my parent’s house to begin my journey as an adult. At the time, I was working at Mcdonald’s with plans of going to a technical school in Waco for plastic engineering. I’d even found a girlfriend that seemed to make my next chapter complete. This was truly a time of “new beginnings.” I often say, “May 15th, 1994, is the day Richard Ray Miles Jr. died”. I’d gotten up early that morning and made plans to visit my girlfriend. My roommate was able to drop me off, and I stayed with Betty (my girlfriend) all day. Around 12:30 AM, I was ready to go back home and caught a ride with a friend who was headed to North Dallas (the neighborhood I lived in). My friend was going to his girlfriend’s house who literally stayed around the corner from my place. Our route took us by my friend’s girlfriend house, so I decided to walk the rest of the way home. This would be the longest walk of my life. It was during this walk that I would be arrested by police officers. Not knowing why, I was in custody; I was escorted downtown to talk with a deceive. When we arrived downtown, I was introduced to a detective. I gave the detectives 5 phone numbers to confirm my whereabouts that day. My alibi’s checked out, however I was booked and arraigned for a murder and attempted murder. My bond was set at $350,000. I stayed in the county jail for 17 months before I went to trial. During the 17 months, I meet my court-appointed attorney and learn that 9 of the 10 witnesses said I wasn’t the shooter. The fingerprints recovered from the crime scene did not match mine nor the victims. My attorney noted that my physical description nor clothing that I was arrested in fit the witnesses’ descriptions of the suspect. Lastly, all of my alibis would come to testify as to my whereabouts the night of May 15. As trial date approached, my lawyer delivered the news 1 witness would take the stand to identify me as the shooter. The state would also submit the results of “a” gun sot residue test – (Positive only in the palm of my right hand – negative anywhere else).
In August of 95, at the age of 20, I began picking my jury. After 6 days of jury trialing and 8 hours of deliberation – the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and I was sentenced to 60 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
I walked on Coffield Unit in 97 and would spend the next 13 years fighting for my freedom. I was blessed to meet a lot of other innocent men in prison. One of the men’s names was Ben Spencer. Ben would provide me with the information to Centurion (innocence organization in Princeton New Jersey). I wrote my first letter to Centurion in 97. Ten years later, after countless communications and investigations, accepted my case! Centurion believed in my innocence. I would walk out of prison October 12, 2009. Two and a half years after my release, I would be fully exonerated and financially compensated for the years lost in prison. My case is the first non-DNA, no-confession exoneration in the State of Texas. My case was overturned on Brady Violation, Prosecutorial Misconduct and Faulty Scientific Evidence – Ex Parte Richard Miles (SW 3rd 359) I was 19 years old when I was arrested – I walked out of prison at the age of 34.
While my wrongful imprisonment was a grave injustice – my overall experience with the criminal legal system and prison system really fueled the work that I’m doing today and most passionate. I’m now the Founder, President, and CEO of Miles of Freedom. Miles of Freedom is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization that provides holistic services for individuals, families, and communities impacted by incarceration.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has not been smooth, but I’ve always stood on a solid foundation –
As it relates to my wrongful imprisonment, the greatest challenge was trying to understand the criminal legal system “How was it possible for a person to literally be walking home and end up with 60 years”? At the age of 19 and still today, there seems to be more questions than answers. We’ve come a long way; however, there’s still work to be done
I was blessed to have the support of my mom, dad, and immediate family. I recall the letters, visits, and financial assistance, which provided a level of hope and support. I also observed that many incarcerated with me did not have a strong supportive system. I struggled with the idea of being a burden to my family and often looked to a time that I would be able to repay them for their generosity and love. My family’s struggle was probably akin to many in my shoes – they were not knowledgeable of the pitfalls or miscarriages of justice within our criminal legal system. My parents were blessed to connect with Mrs. Joyce Ann Brown, who would become a mentor and advocate. Mrs. Brown was the first Black woman in Dallas to be released for a crime she did not commit). After her release, she started a nonprofit to assist those returning from prison. Mrs. Brown was instrumental in guiding my mom and dad through some of the legal hurdles. For example, when my dad was looking to purchase my police records, Mrs. Brown guided my dad through the process of filing a Freedom of Information Act with the Dallas Police Department. Sadly, 6 months before my release, my dad passed. This was another challenge that I had to face – returning home without the presence of my dad. There’s beauty even in the passing of my dad. Centurion visited my dad in the hospital and shared the news of my upcoming release. As I am told, after hearing the news, my dad closed his eyes and rested.
Lastly, I would have to say my struggle reentering society was also a challenge. I grew up in our legal/prison system from the ages of 19 to 34. Just imagine being isolated in a box for 15 years – not even considering the wrongful incarceration. I found very little space of hope or rehabilitation within the system. Upon my release, I was ignorant of how to use cell phones; the Dallas landscape had changed, the internet was booming, and a lot of family members had passed on – However, with the support of family, church members, and friends, I was able to navigate the pitfalls that often stagnant a person transitioning from prison back home. I knew from experience that everyone returning home from prison would not be lucky to have a solid support system – and I knew this was an area that I could provide value and support in.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For the past 12 years, I’ve had the pleasure and distinct honor to lead Miles of Freedom as its CEO. I founded Miles of Freedom in 2012 with a portion of the compensation from my wrongful conviction. The mission of Miles of Freedom is to equip, empower, and educate individuals, families, and communities impacted by incarceration. Miles of Freedom’s works in this space of reentry services from a is holistic approach. Miles is the acronym for Motivating Inspiring Law-Abiding Enthusiastic and Successful. Miles of Freedom’s services can be grouped in 3 buckets – the first is direct case management. For those that are newly released from prison or have been out for some time, we have a dedicated group of case managers. Our team works individually with each person to assist them with resources and services that will put them on a pathway of success. While success looks different to each person, our goal is to ensure that our services lead to a better quality of life.
Miles of Freedom also has a unique program called Transition to Employment (TTE). This program actually allows program participants that are in case management to work on our lawn services. The members are temporarily employed until case managers are able to identify livable wage employment. The lawn service operates as a soft skill training pad and earned revenue for Miles of Freedom. We have commercial and residential contracts which allows Miles of Freedom to have consistent visibility in the community and abroad.
Lastly, in 2019, Miles of Freedom became the stewards of the MLK Distribution Center. This was a collaborative project with the focus of providing food for those experiencing food insecurity. Our pantry is unique in that we are one of the few with no income or zip code restrictions. Since 2019, Miles of Freedom and community partners have distributed over 3 million pounds of food to Dallas residents. The pantry is also a space for Miles of Freedom members to volunteer, which gives them a sense of value and self-worth.
What do you think about happiness?
When I think of the things that make me Happy – seeing the smiles on my daughter’s faces, feeling the unrestricted wind breeze across my face, or getting a call from a member thanking us for our services makes me Happy. However, I’ve learned to embraced the things that produce Joy and appreciate the things that bring Happiness. So I guess I’ve learned that Happiness is contingent and sometimes confusing while “Joy” is internal and keeps you when you have nothing else.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.milesoffreedom.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard.miles.925059/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milesoffreedomorg
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/miles-of-freedom/
- Youtube: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Miles+of+Freedom+YOutube&qpvt=Miles+of+Freedom
