Reviews - Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption

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Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption

I listened to the audiobook version as Bryan Stevenson guides us through the many examples that he has encountered first hand in the justice system. Primarily working through the Equal Justice Institute (EJI) based in Alabama, he invites us in to understand the backstory behind many individuals who have found themselves on death row and with life sentences in prison. The commonality that many of the individuals that he represents are that they come from modest or poor backgrounds, have often experienced hardship, neglect or abuse as children and are largely persons of color.

There were several times in this book where I just shouted stop. The horrifying circumstances that some individuals come from and the even worse ones they are subjected to in prison are difficult to hear about. I don't think you can come away without thinking that changes are needed and that we need a better way to help people come with mental health challenges and substance abuse.

Certainly, a justice system that serves the wealthy and guilty, better than it protects the poor and innocent merits a reexamination.

Thanks for providing this insider look at the lives of individuals in the criminal justice system, their families and some of the legal professionals navigating this rocky landscape.

dbatten4x22's review against another edition

4.0

If you live in modern America, these are stories you should hear. Even better, they are well told, a brilliant mixture of narrative and information. Whatever you think about the death penalty, these stories should be a part of the picture you use to think about the issue.

And for those who care, the audiobook is read by the author.

emmaxbemma's review against another edition

4.0

If you haven’t read this already, you need to.

Initially, I thought this book was going to follow the injustice and immoral rulings in one death row case, exposing the major flaws of our justice system, but it went above and beyond that. It discusses race, poverty, mental illness, women prisoners and children prisoners. There were so many “are you kidding me, this is so illegal” moments in unfair trials of people from a variety of backgrounds. I knew our justice system was corrupt, but how common corruption and how recent opened my eyes in a whole new way.

Overall, this book was educational - it was honest and credible. It showed reality, but it also showed hope. In my opinion, every American needs to read this.