Redeeming Justice: An Inside Look at Wrongful Conviction

Chicago native Jarrett Adams discusses his book Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System (Penguin Random House) in an online program for Friends of the Edgewater Library. He and Joi Thomas Adams will share their insiders' perspective of why wrongful convictions of innocent people are so prevalent in America. 

Through their non-profit Life After Justice, the Adams' are creating the mechanisms to free other wrongfully convicted individuals and change the processes and laws that put them behind bars. Exonerees will be able to tap into a network of mental health and wellness professionals specifically trained to work with exonerees and technology and training to give them entry to today's digital/virtual world.

A P. S. From Jarrett & Joi

We asked Jarrett and Joi what actions people can take to help battle the injustice of wrongful convictions. Here's what they told us.

"Read! Educate yourself about your constitutional rights and the reasons wrongful convictions continue to happen in America. Then, get involved in your community. There are many organizations doing innocence and justice reform work - you don't have to be a legal professional to volunteer," says Jarrett.

Joi agrees. "You first have to understand how our legal system works - and when it doesn't. If you're a legal professional do pro bono work - it's going to take an army of people to right the wrongs within our legal system. Get vocal and get active - when the legal system does something wrong - we all pay. Finally, make a donation to organizations doing innocence and reform work - it may be one of the most important and gratifying investments you'll ever make."

To learn more about Jarrett & Joi's nonprofit, join, or donate, visit Life After Justice. This organization is dedicated to preventing wrongful convictions and building an ecosystem of support and empowerment for exonerees. 

Resources & Other Information

To learn more about wrongful convictions, download our Resource List.

To order Jarrett Adam's debut book Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System visit Barbara’s Bookstore.

To learn about Jarrett Adam's practice, visit Jarrett Adams Law and follow on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

To learn more about the host organization visit Friends of the Edgewater Library.

Redeeming Justice is available at the Chicago Public Library; please check your local library.

Jarrett Adam’s photo by Negine Sekondari.