Calvin Johnson Jr. was the first Georgian to be exonerated with DNA evidence. In his book, he details spending 16 years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit.

He sat down with 11Alive’s Duffie Dixon to talk about his life after incarceration.

Calvin Johnson Jr. is living the American dream after a 16-year nightmare.

When Calvin was just 25 years old, he was wrongfully arrested for rape.

“I kept saying I didn’t do it and I had confidence in the criminal justice system. I believed they’re going to realize they made a mistake,” Johnson said.

A jury convicted him, sending him to prison for life.

He continued to appeal and in 1999, learned something called DNA evidence. He convinced lawyers to push for a test.

He was exonerated.

“I was convicted in 1983; I walked out of prison in 1999. That’s all of the 80s. All of the 90s,” Johnson said.

Beginning a new life was not easy. It was, in fact, a whole new world.

“If you go to a bank, some banks don’t even want to give you a checking account unless you have a co-signer. How’s a 40 or 50-year-old man feel having a co-signer for a checking account? You can’t go get any place to stay on your own, because they say you don’t have any rental history. You don’t have a job. If you had any training or skills when you went in there, they no longer exist. Just simple things like pumping gas. I stood there looking at the pump because I didn’t know how to use it,” Johnson said.

Johnson eventually adjusted -- in fact, he thrived. And while he can’t forget where he’s been, he prefers to focus on where he’s at.

“There are times when I just ride down the street. I feel an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness. Just seeing my little daughter running up to me with her open arms and her beautiful smile,” Johnson said.

Johnson has actually written a book about his experience. He also serves on the board of Project Innocence, the group that helped him and Robert Clark.

They have six other cases pending.