Innocence Project Best Innocence Books

As we wrote yesterday in our post on ten great moments of the decade, it has been an eventful and successful 10 years for individuals and groups working to overturn wrongful convictions – but there’s plenty of work left to do.

As we embark on a new decade, here’s a roundup of 10 must-read books on wrongful convictions and criminal justice reform from the last 10 years, in no particular order. There were many more great books on the issue in the 2000s than we can name here, however, so please visit our book list for more good reads.

“Picking Cotton” by exoneree Ronald Cotton and crime victim Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, with Erin Torneo. Set to come out in paperback on January 4, this book was a highlight of 2009 and tells the moving story of a wrongful conviction and the fight for reform from the perspectives of an exoneree and crime victim.

“Actual Innocence”, by Innocence Project Co-Directors Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, with Jim Dwyer, this groundbreaking book examines the emergence of DNA testing and the causes of wrongful conviction it unveiled.

“Exit to Freedom,” an autobiography by Georgia exoneree Calvin Johnson, with Greg Hampikian of the Idaho Innocence Project, describes Johnson’s 1983 wrongful conviction, his fight for freedom and the challenges of building a new life after exoneration.

“The Innocents,” is a visually stunning collection of exoneree photos by Taryn Simon, with commentary by Innocence Project Co-Directors Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld.

“Surviving Justice: America’s Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated,” includes first-hand accounts of injustice and exoneration from 13 men and women who were wrongfully convicted. Edited by Dave Eggers and Lola Vollen.

“Journey Toward Justice,” is Dennis Fritz’s personal account of his conviction in Oklahoma for a murder he didn’t commit.

“True Stories of False Confessions,” gathers articles and stories of false confessions, one of the leading causes of wrongful conviction. Edited by Rob Warden and Steve Drizin of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at the Northwestern University School of Law.

“Tulia: Race, Cocaine, and Corruption in a Small Texas Town,” by Nate Blakeslee, explores injustice and the drug war through the lens of a wrongful conviction scandal in Texas.

“The Innocent Man,” John Grisham’s first non-fiction book tells the heartbreaking story of a murder in Oklahoma and an unimaginable injustice suffered by two innocent men: Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.

“Bloodsworth,” by Tim Junkin, is the story of Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person exonerated through DNA testing in the U.S. after serving time on death row.

Finished two books on the same day

I have been reading Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer.  On my Kindle. I have read all of his book and this one was not the best but it was a decent read.  I met him once.  He got credit in law school for his first novel.  I am jealous.

I also have been listening to Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly in the car.  This is a fun book that does one of the best desriptions of what it is really like to do criminal defense I have ever "read."

PD James The Private Patient

My mom is a big PD James fan and I finally read a mystery by her.  I read Children of Men a few years ago.  A great book and an ok movie.  

I read The Private Patient of course I read  it on my Kindle.  It was ok. A pretty good mystery but not really much of a who done it.  I am a Ellery Queen mystery fan where you get all the information you need to solve the crime.  This book was more of a description of the investigation and the process of solving the crime.  None the less a pretty good book.

The Nine

I am currently reading The Nine. A really interesting insiders look at the United States Supreme Court. It rivals The Brethren, a look at the court done in the 70s. I am really enjoying reading it. If you are at all intrigued by the Court and how it operates or about the personalities of the Justices you would enjoy this book.

Of course I am reading it on my Kindle.

My new toy

An Amazon Kindle was my birthday present and I love it. If you know me you know that I love electronic gadgets. I have had a smart phone for over 10 years. Also if you know me you know I love books. The look the feel and smell, I love books.

So the electronic book reader was a bit of a conflict for me. But I am really happy with it. The initial cost is a little high but new releases can be downloaded for under $10. It is environmentally sound too because it is paperless.

It is really easy to read. I hate reading on a computer monitor and never read ebooks on my many PDAs. But the screen is just the right size and uses a special technology that is really easy to read and can be read in bright light.

It stores hundreds of books and documents.

On mine I have the national and diocesan constitution and canons and and all of the services from the book of common prayer and a few other things I like to have handy.

I really like the Kindle and the fact that it makes Star Trek technology advancement predictions come true is also very cool.