AFTER INNOCENCE tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated – innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. The film focuses on the gripping story of seven men and their emotional journey back into society and efforts to rebuild their lives. Included are a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father sent to prison and even death row for decades for crimes they did not commit.
This new film strikes me as an incredibly interesting and informative story that we should all hear. We are part of a society that I’ll admit has a pretty fair justice system. There are many disturbing exceptions to this, but overall I think even I would have to agree it’s pretty fair. I think it is precisely because of this that we should be so aware and concerned about injustice, mistakes, wrongdoings in it.
I would like to encourage everyone to see this movie for two reasons. First, the premiere is not playing in Nashville so I won’t have a chance to see it myself (self interest, I know). Second, I believe that, at the very least, these men have earned the right to be heard by every person in the country. For a couple hours and a few bucks this spring, go and listen to their story.
Granted, our system is fair compared to some that randomly pull people off the streets for crimes they didn’t commit, and leave them in prison without a trial, yadayada. We uphold a term called due process of law, something I can put faith in to know I will never wrongfully be arrested, tried, and punished for something I didn’t do. But it also helps that I am a white female. Take a look at some of the statistics of prisoners, repeat prisoners, and length of prison stay/parole grants. I’m talking about race, money, age, etc. Then tell me again that you think it’s fair. Or maybe all 20 year old black men really are angry violent criminals. We should save the legal system some time and money and just pass a law against being a young minority. Then we could buy books for prison libraries with the money we saved!
I want to see this – I’ve always had the impression that it was possible to be convicted of something you didn’t do, but only if you were doing something else you shouldn’t be (in the wrong place with the wrong crowd, doing drugs, etc. etc.). I wonder how this will hold up?
Melissa, you are completely right. There is a lot of injustice in our world. Whether it be in the justice system itself (cause the human’s that run it are unjust), or in every other facet of our society.
I think I was trying to avoid people missing the importance of the movie because they got hung up on me being critical of our country and what not. But your right, and I should probably speak up on this a bit.
Do you have any books that you would recommend someone read to learn more about this?