1975 September 3 The case of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and John Artis, who have been serving life sentences for murder since 1967 despite the fact that the two chief prosecution witnesses recanted in September 1974 (asserting they were coerced into perjury by the Passaic County Prosecutor's office) was sent by New Jersey Governor Byme to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for review and to determine whether pardons should be granted. Carter has long claimed that he was framed because of his outspoken views about racism and police brutality in Paterson.