In a statement, Meek expressed gratitude to have finally reached the end of his long road toward justice. He also looked ahead to future reform efforts, pointing to how his case has helped push the mainstream conversation regarding criminal justice reform forward.
"I'm extremely grateful that my long legal battle is finally behind me and I appreciate that it has sparked a much-needed discussion about probation reform and the inequalities that exist within our two Americas," he said Tuesday. "I have always told the truth—that as a teenager, who saw many around me die from senseless gun violence, I carried a gun for protection. I take responsibility for that and—in conjunction with my work on the REFORM Alliance—I'll continue to use my platform to make communities safer and reform our criminal justice system."
Meek also shared specific shout-outs to JAY-Z and others who helped him along the way.
"I want to express my gratitude to all of my supporters, especially JAY-Z, Desiree Perez, Michael Rubin, my legal team, and everyone else who stood by me throughout the years," he said. "It's important that we now channel our energy into helping the millions that are unjustly trapped in our criminal justice system."
Tuesday, the court expressed agreement with Meek's legal team that the case "had been tainted" by the involvement of Philly cop Reginald Graham. The move comes weeks after Meek's 2008 conviction was vacated by the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
The case had received renewed interest from mainstream voices and activists alike in the wake of a 2017 order from the highly criticized Judge Genece E. Brinkley that Meek serve time for purported probation violations. Earlier this month, an Amazon docuseries chronicling Meek's battle—titled Free Meek—was released. The five-part series was produced by Roc Nation.
In a separate statement, Tyler Maroney and Luke Brindle-Khym of the private investigations firm QRI—which helped uncover evidence that ultimately helped with Meek's freedom—touted Meek's continued efforts toward reform:
QRI supports Meek’s decision to move beyond this nightmare that has oppressed him for a third of his life. Our relentless investigation and discoveries were instrumental in getting Meek released from prison and overturning his original conviction. This new agreement recognizes that Meek has already been punished for crimes that he did not commit — both in prison and in suffering through a decade of probation. He had no criminal record before this offense and has transformed himself into a successful recording artist, a role model for his son, and a leader in the criminal justice reform effort.
