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taylorcali's review
5.0
Written by the California Innocence Project founder, headquartered here in San Diego, I can only hope to run into this author one day. This book is full of the rewarding work he and his colleagues do to try to free those truly innocent in our justice system.
It appears a lot of people (and people of color, at that) in this day and age ended up in prison post–War on Drugs declaration from Reagan in the 1980s. Especially those with priors. And before our DNA evidence was technologically advanced like it is today. Before that, people were convicted and sentenced based on ONE lineup identification by an eyewitness. Crazy. So there's how the "you might go to prison even though you're innocent" comes into play for this book (not that you'd just be plucked off the street and thrown into prison, which is perhaps how this title could be interpreted).
The author talks about stories of people he's freed and offers in the end possible reforms that could help keep innocent people out of prison. One of those is doing away with the jury trials altogether—something I never realized was unique to the United States/Western culture. (Also something I don't think will ever happen in our lifetime.) Reforms to lineups could also help—telling possible eyewitnesses the suspect may or MAY NOT be in this lineup, and showing them a second lineup saying the same thing.
On and on we could go, but it seems a lot of it starts with the police and how they handle investigations and eyewitnesses, leading to convictions of innocent people, as the jury will put all their weight into this one witness's identification.
Anyway, this was well done and kept my attention the entire time. And if the California Innocence Project ever needs an editor, I'm available. That, or maybe I should just go to law school already.
It appears a lot of people (and people of color, at that) in this day and age ended up in prison post–War on Drugs declaration from Reagan in the 1980s. Especially those with priors. And before our DNA evidence was technologically advanced like it is today. Before that, people were convicted and sentenced based on ONE lineup identification by an eyewitness. Crazy. So there's how the "you might go to prison even though you're innocent" comes into play for this book (not that you'd just be plucked off the street and thrown into prison, which is perhaps how this title could be interpreted).
The author talks about stories of people he's freed and offers in the end possible reforms that could help keep innocent people out of prison. One of those is doing away with the jury trials altogether—something I never realized was unique to the United States/Western culture. (Also something I don't think will ever happen in our lifetime.) Reforms to lineups could also help—telling possible eyewitnesses the suspect may or MAY NOT be in this lineup, and showing them a second lineup saying the same thing.
On and on we could go, but it seems a lot of it starts with the police and how they handle investigations and eyewitnesses, leading to convictions of innocent people, as the jury will put all their weight into this one witness's identification.
Anyway, this was well done and kept my attention the entire time. And if the California Innocence Project ever needs an editor, I'm available. That, or maybe I should just go to law school already.
emmaallenmarshall's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
should be required reading for everyone in the us
anj_t's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I loved You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You’re Innocent! Don’t think it could happen to you? Author and founding director of the California Innocence Project Justin Brooks (@justinobrooks) has receipts. With crisp, clear, engaging, and often heartbreaking writing, he presents actual cases of real prisoners who have been exonerated. He debunks common beliefs that only low income, poorly educated, criminally-adjacent people land in these nightmares. Some scenarios he describes- again, from actual cases— include 1) “you hired the wrong lawyer”... 2) “you got a jury that was blinded by science”... 3) “you have or care for a sick child”... and 4) “you (kind of) look like other people in the world. That’s just to name a few. The sick child chapter will frustrate and unsettle you, but then all of the cases show that there is work to be done at every level of our justice system. Buy it, read it, keep it handy because even if you’re living like a monk, it only takes one incident to bring the full force of the law on you. It pays to be prepared. (BTW you’ll never watch “Law & Order” the same way again.)
mordshunger's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I have the greatest respect for Brooks' work. This wasn't a book that would CHANGE my mind, because I am already a big fan of the Innocence Project. He is not a tear jerker. He has the fluid, competent and precise language you'd expect from a professional lawyer and teacher, but his factual stories made me tear up multiple times.
He is very aware of structural and procedural problems of the just ce system and wraps them into a clear structure. The information density is high and he has solution proposals for all problems named. He praises and gives credit to others like it is a sport. The book closes by discussing criticisms of the Innocence Project. 10/10
He is very aware of structural and procedural problems of the just ce system and wraps them into a clear structure. The information density is high and he has solution proposals for all problems named. He praises and gives credit to others like it is a sport. The book closes by discussing criticisms of the Innocence Project. 10/10
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Murder and Police brutality
Minor: Rape