Post-Conviction Purgatory

It took decades for death row inmate Richard Glossip to convince Oklahomans and, later, the U.S. Supreme Court that he deserved a new trial. Glossip is just one of many inmates who say they faced convictions for crimes they did not commit. Read about enough of these cases, and you’ll be asking, “Is innocence enough?”For the wrongfully convicted, tearful reunions and proclamations of justice from the courthouse steps only come after an arduous exoneration process paved with years of litigation.The average person wrongfully convicted loses a decade of their life behind bars, learning the legal system and advocating for their innocence. As the number of exonerations rise annually, there is still no way to track how many people have suffered unjust convictions.In the third episode of our fifth season, we journey through the highs and lows of post-conviction purgatory for people claiming innocence, from one Oklahoma man’s hand-written petitions to a New York man who waited nearly two decades for evidence to emerge for a lawyer to take his case.Special guests:Andrea Miller, legal director of the Oklahoma Innocence ProjectMaurice Possley, researcher at the National Registry of ExonerationsJustin Brooks, co-founder of the California Innocence ProjectLaneshia Jordan, Texas attorneyJeffrey Deskovic, exoneree and attorneyMichael Grant, exoneree and assistant director of The Liberation FoundationRetired U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen MixCarl Wyatt, Oklahoma inmate asserting innocenceThis episode was produced by Kirk McDaniel. Intro music by The Dead Pens. Editorial staff is Ryan Abbott, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.