Hundreds of criminal cases every year are reconsidered across the U.S. for faulty evidence or investigative misconduct. In many instances, the person accused has served time in jail or prison.

That's the case for one man, who had a murder conviction dismissed and his case formally closed on Thursday, decades after being found guilty.

For more than 20 years, Alphonso Davis lived an existence boxed by four walls and steel bars, serving 50 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and attempted murder. That changed earlier this year, a change that was made official in court on Thursday.

“What you witnessed today was a negotiated settlement in a case involving the prospect of having to relitigate a case that's over two decades old,” Albany County District Attorney David Soares said. “Needless to say, the case that we would be prosecuting today is not the same case that we were that we were able to prosecute 24 years ago.” 

Davis is now looking to start a new life after resentencing in the case.

“The moment is overwhelming to him, that he really wants to just be home with his family, and that he hopes that the ordeal that he underwent never happens to anybody else,” co-counsel Joshua Kelner said.

In 2001, Davis was convicted of charges built on evidence collected by now discredited police detective Kenneth Wilcox, who died in a 2006 car crash.

“Certain challenges were made to the conviction as to a couple of lay witnesses recanted their testimony, and it was challenges as to whether we'll be able to retry this case in light of the availability of witnesses,” said Michael Connolly, Albany County assistant district attorney.

Davis was released on March 20 of this year, when Judge William Little vacated murder and attempted murder convictions, and Davis pleading guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm.

“We filed a motion to vacate the murder conviction, which was wrongful. And the prosecutor, as part of settling that motion, they offered him on a plea to something, basically release from prison,” co-counsel Don Savatta said.

Davis was resentenced to eight-and-a-half years incarceration and five years post-release supervision in connection with the firearm charge. Time already served was considered sufficient by the judge. Davis is now a free man, though a convicted felon.

Observers say cases like this can spark conversations around faulty evidence and overall trust in the criminal justice system, something Soares says isn’t something the public should lose faith in.

“As far as trust in the criminal justice system, we go through these processes every single day and we achieve the right outcome. A physician who is practicing medicine in San Diego, California, who operates on the wrong arm, you would never expect that people going to Albany Medical Center who would be losing faith in the medical system. However, that brush seems to be so broad when we're talking about the criminal justice system. If I could just add any proper allegations of false confessions or actual innocence brought to this point to the surface properly, are investigated by this office and taken seriously as well,” said Soares.

Davis expressed appreciation for court’s consideration, but may consider further action.

“Alphonso will pursue appropriate remedies for violations of his civil rights. But today, that's not what we're focused on. What we're focused on is the end of a sordid chapter of a criminal process that should never have started,” said Kelner.