Just Justice

On this episode of Just Justice, Damon "Sharuka" Venable, Community Affairs and Policy Specialist with the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, shares his journey from a Newark childhood marked by poverty and street violence to spending 35 years in prison before being granted parole on his first attempt. Drawing from his memoir, A Beautiful Pain, Sharuka reflects on accountability, survival, education, and the long process of personal transformation behind prison walls. He also explains why he believes that people must be seen as more than the worst thing they have ever done.   Links:  You can order Sharuka's memoir, A Beautiful Pain, here: https://transformativereentry.com/   For more about Jessica Henry, go to [email protected]. Or sign up for her newsletter at https://jessicahenryjustice.substack.com/subscribe.   Production Editor: Kaz Araki

In this episode of Just Justice, Jessica Henry speaks with Charles Rosen, founder of Ironbound Farm, about an unusual approach to justice: combining regenerative farming with second-chance employment. Charles shares what he’s learned from hiring people returning from prison, why jobs alone often aren’t enough, and how systems like parole can still derail successful reentry. Drawing on lessons from agriculture, he explores "regenerative justice," based on the belief that repairing people, communities, and even the land requires time, dignity, and connection.Join us for a conversation that highlights both the promise and the challenges of farming for justice.  To learn more about Ironbound Farm and Ciderhouse (including how to visit the farm), go to https://www.ironboundhardcider.com/. To watch Charles' TedTalk where he explains the connection between regenerative farming and regenerative justice, go to: https://www.ted.com/talks/charles_rosen_regenerative_agriculture_as_a_model_for_urban_renewal. To learn more about Jessica Henry, subscribe to her free substack "All Things Justice" or visit her website at jessicahenryjustice.com. Production Editor: Kaz Araki

Nikki Mammano is the author of Breaking Good, a fast-paced memoir that traces her journey from suburban New Jersey to the drug underworld of Waikiki and back again, through addiction, arrest, prison, and ultimately recovery. Our conversation is both poignant and unexpectedly funny as we explore trauma and second chances in our criminal justice system. Who gets imprisoned and who receives grace? What is prison really like? What does it take to rebuild a life after you’ve been labeled by the system? This is an episode you won't want to miss!  To learn more about Nikki Mammano (and for links to her fabulous book) go to: https://www.nikkimammano.com/. To learn more about RYSE Hawaii, go to Rysehawaii.org. For more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.  Production Editor: Kaz Araki  

S3E11: Death by Incarceration: Felix Rosado on Life Sentences and Restorative Justice Sentenced to life without parole at 18, Felix Rosado spent nearly 27 years in prison before his sentence was commuted. In this episode of Just Justice, Felix reflects on the moment he realized what a life sentence truly meant, what's wrong with "death by incarceration,"  and how restorative justice transformed his understanding of accountability and change. Now a restorative justice practitioner and educator, Felix discusses healing, responsibility, and why true justice must go beyond punishment to repair harm and rebuild relationships. For more information about Let's Circle Up, go to: https://www.letscircleup.org/our-history To get your copy of Justice From the Inside Up: A Restorative Justice Education Facilitator's Manual, by Felix Rosdao, go to https://livingjusticepress.org/product/justice-from-the-inside-up/. For more about Jessica Henry, go to her website at jessicahenryjustce.com. Production Editor: Kaz Araki

In this episode of Just Justice, host Jessica Henry speaks with April Barber-Scales, who was sentenced to life without parole in 1991 as a frightened, pregnant teenager.  After more than thirty years in prison, April received a rare commutation in 2022 from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Since her release, April has devoted herself to advocating for people in prison and challenging extreme sentencing practices. She is the founder of the nonprofit Fenced In: Fighting For Freedom Advocacy and author of multiple books, including her memoir of the same name. In this moving episode, April shares her personal experiences if incarceration, reflects on the lasting impact of extreme sentences on children, and makes a powerful case for a justice system that leaves room for dignity, accountability and second chances. To learn more about April Barber-Scales, her writing, and Fenced In: Fighting For Freedom Advocacy, visit to https://aprilbarberscales.com To learn more Jessica Henry, visit https://jessicahenryjustice.com Audio mixing by Kaz Araki.  

In this powerful episode of Just Justice, writer, organizer, and abolitionist Emile Suotonye DeWeaver, author of Ghosts in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future, draws on more than two decades of incarceration to offer a deeply personal and sharply analytical critique of the U.S. criminal legal system, along with a bold vision for what justice could look like beyond prisons. Emile reflects on how writing quite literally helped secure his release, why his story is inseparable from the collective wisdom of people still inside the walls, and what an abolitionist future demands of our imagination. To learn more about Emilie's work, go to Re:Frame at https://www.reframeconsults.com/about-emile Pick up your copy of Ghosts in the Criminal Justice Machine here. To learn more about Jessica Henry, go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com. Audio mixing by Kaz Araki  

Dr. Daphne Bryden joins this episode of Just Justice to explore trauma, transformation, and life after long-term incarceration. Drawing on over two decades of clinical and research experience, Dr. Brydon examines how people sentenced to life as children survive and grow in prison, and how they reclaim their identities and intimacy upon their release. She also tackles complex ideas about what a trauma-informed approach to justice could look like. A must-listen for anyone interested in justice, growth, and healing.    To learn more about Dr. Daphne Bryon and her work, go to: https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/p/brydonde   For more information about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.   Audio mixed by Kaz Araki

In this episode of Just Justice, host Jessica Henry sits down with Abe Bonowitz, co-founder and executive director of Death Penalty Action and one of the most persistent voices in the movement to end capital punishment in the United States. Abe shares how he went from a young man who once said he’d “pull the switch” himself to a lifelong abolitionist, and what decades of work on the front lines have taught him about justice, accountability, and the value of every human life. They discuss the politics behind the recent uptick in executions, why support for the death penalty is at historic lows even as some states ramp up killing, and the cost to victims’ families of capital punishment. Ultimately, Abe offers a powerful vision for justice in a world without capital punishment.  To learn more about Death Penalty Action and ways to support their work, go to https://deathpenaltyaction.org/. To learn more about Jessica Henry got to https://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Audio mixed by Kaz Araki

Jennifer Soble, founder and Executive Director of the Illinois Prison Project, is re-imagining justice around a simple but radical belief: people can change. In this episode of Just Justice, Jennifer and host Jessica Henry explore how hope becomes action, and how that hope has brought hundreds of people home. Through compelling stories of freedom and reform, we hear how the Illinois Prison Project fights for second chances through parole, compassionate release, re-sentencing, and clemency. It’s a moving conversation about redemption and legal reform, and the bold passion for justice that makes both possible. Join us.  To learn more about Jennifer Soble and the work of IPP:  Visit their website: illinoisprisonproject.org or find them on social media: @illinoisprisonproject. To learn more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.

David Carrillo was serving a life without parole sentence when he realized he needed to radically change his thinking, and the way he was living behind bars. From a prison cell, he began a journey of education, reflection, and transformation that led him to become the first incarcerated college professor in the country. In this inspiring episode, we talk about what it means to imagine a life of purpose in a place built for punishment, how education became David’s pathway to hope, and what his story reveals about the power of redemption and the human capacity for change.   To learn more about David's work: https://www.davidrcarrilloconsulting.com/. Check out his memoir, Kiko: From Life Without Parole to Life with Purpose: https://a.co/d/3Qth27p   For more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.

At just 17, Jeffrey Deskovic was coerced into a false confession and wrongly convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, despite DNA evidence that proved his innocence. After 16 years behind bars, he was finally exonerated. Now an attorney and founder of the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation, Jeff joins Just Justice to share his powerful story and his mission to free the wrongfully convicted. It’s a powerful conversation about resilience, truth, and the urgent need for justice reform to protect the innocent.    Learn more about Jeffrey Deskovic at:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.deskovic/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydeskovic/  Learn more about the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation (with a link to donate!): https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/deskovicfoundation/  Watch the short documentary "Conviction": https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B35H3CR3/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Learn more about Jessica Henry at jessicahenryjustice.com.

When former U.S. Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer refused to recommend a pardon for actor Mel Gibson, the Trump administration fired her just three hours later. Now, Liz is telling her story. Liz has become a leading voice for justice, transparency, and integrity in the criminal legal system. On this episode of Just Justice, we dive into the politics of federal pardons under the Trump administration, and talk about what it takes to stand up for what's right, even when the personal cost is devastatingly high.     You can learn more about Liz Oyer at: https://www.lawyeroyer.com, (where you can subscribe to her substack!) or find her on the socials at "Lawyer Oyer"    For more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com    

Law professor Aliza Kaplan joins Just Justice to share the human side of “second-chance lawyering." Aliza details the chllanging legal work that happens after a conviction, where post-conviction advocacy, parole, clemency, and re-sentencing can truly change lives. Aliza traces her journey from co-founding the New England Innocence Project to helping reshape criminal justice policy in Oregon, and shares stories of people who came home ready to thrive. If you’re curious about reforms that actually work, and the people behind them, join us for a conversation that is hopeful and inspiring.  

On this episode of Just Justice, Amanda Carrasco, author of the new memoir Becoming the Brave One, shares how her experiences with sexual abuse and homicide shaped her path toward healing, and how restorative justice became a powerful framework for accountability, resilience, and hope. This conversation highlights the strength it takes to tell your story and the possibilities of justice rooted in repair rather than prison. To learn more about Amanda Carrasco and to order her new memoir, Becoming the Brave One, go to: https://amandacarrasco.com/. To learn more about Jessica Henry and the Just Justice podcast, visit jessicahenryjustice.com.

At just 15 years old, Andrew Hundley was sentenced to life without parole. Nearly two decades later, he became the first juvenile lifer in Louisiana released after the Supreme Court ruled such sentences unconstitutional. In this powerful episode of Just Justice, Andrew shares his extraordinary journey from incarceration to non-profit leader. Now the co-founder and executive director of the Louisiana Parole Project, Andrew is helping rewrite the narrative for over 600 formerly incarcerated individuals by providing housing, employment, life skills, mentoring, and a community that believes in redemption. Tune in to hear how one man’s second chance is helping hundreds of others find theirs.     

Ever wonder what mass incarceration really costs us—not just in terms of dollars, but in lost opportunities, strained families, and long-term economic impact? Spoiler: it’s a lot more than you think. In this episode, I sit down with Zoë Towns, Executive Director of FWD.us, to unpack the eye-opening findings from their report We Can’t Afford It: Mass Incarceration and the Family Tax. We break down the staggering financial burden of the prison system and explore what a better, more equitable future could look like. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.   To find out more about Zoë Towns and the work of FWD.US: go to https://www.fwd.us/ To read their groundbreaking report, go to: https://www.wecantaffordit.us/   To learn more about Jessica Henry and Just Justice, go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com.   

Michael Pinard has devoted his entire career to advocating for children and fighting against the racial biases that often accompany their mistreatment in our legal systems. A former public defender turned law professor, Michael's work focuses on the intersection between race and the civil, criminal and juvenile justice systems. Michael is the faculty director of the Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law and director of the Clinical Law Program at the University of Maryland School of Law. He also is an old friend of mine, going way back to our days at NYU School of Law. If you care about children and justice, you won't want to miss this episode of Just Justice.    To learn more about Michael Pinard's work, go to: https://www.law.umaryland.edu/faculty--research/directory/profile/index.php?id=093   To learn more about Jessica Henry, go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com   

Phillip Alvin Jones is incarcerated in a Washington prison, where he is serving two life sentences plus twenty years for a crime he committed many years ago in Maryland. Although he has been in prison for over thirty years, he has used his time to be an agent of change, both inside and outside the walls. Phillip hosts the podcast, The Wall: Behind and Beyond, and runs his own company, Phillip A. Jones, LLC., which seeks to transform our justice system by working towards a future where justice and rehabilitation meet. In this episode of Just Justice, Phillip and I talk about prison, books, and how he stays focused on being free in all the ways that matter. Join us.     For more information about Phillip Alvin Jones: To contact Phillip directly at Airway Heights Corrections Center in Washington: 1. Create a Securus account here: https://securustech.online/#/login 2. Search for Airway Heights Corrections Center  3. Alvin Jones,DOC number: 881507    To learn more about Phillip's work, go to https://www.phillipajonesconsultingllc.com/. To listen to his podcast, The Wall: Behind and Beyond, https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWallBehindandBeyondPodcast     For more information about Jessica Henry, go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com.

S1EP21 Bryan Widenhouse: Advocate, Artist and JLWOP Survivor   Bryan Widenhouse received a life without parole sentence when he was only 17 years old. During his 31 year incarceration, some of which was spent at the notorious Angola prison, Bryan chose to serve others as a path toward accountability and redemption. When a change in law allowed Bryan to be released, he seized the opportunity to continue serving others. Bryan now works as a State Legislative Affairs Manager for FAMM, challenging extreme sentences and promoting second look laws. He has spoken to members of Congress, testified to legislators, and helped to develop a Speakers’ Bureau to change the narrative around extreme sentences. In this episode of Just Justice, I talk with Bryan about the importance of second chances, his art, and the power of community service to heal and transform.  To see a small sample of Bryan's art: ELLGE4907.JPG IMG_2669.JPG To learn more about the National LWOP Leadership Council and the Speakers' Bureau of former lifers, as well as a wealth of information about LWOP and our efforts to abolish the sentence: https://www.beyondlwop.org/national-lwop-leadership-council/ To learn about FAMM:  https://famm.org/   To learn more about Jessica Henry, go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com

Ruth Greenberg has been called the Massachusetts mama of medical parole. As a trail blazer and a defense lawyer, Ruth has devoted her extensive career to fighting on behalf of the poor and the incarcerated. On this episode of Just Justice, Ruth tells us about her leading role in the push for compassionate release in Massachusetts, and shares stories about the successful fight against life without parole for people under the age of 21 in her state. To learn more about Ruth and her work: POV: Governor Baker Should Not Be Afraid to Set Dying Prisoners Free, https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/pov-governor-baker-should-not-be-afraid-to-set-dying-prisoners-free-2/ Cement Head’s last fight: He was denied parole six times — until he was about to become a Covid-19 statistic, https://www.statnews.com/2021/04/14/deathbed-double-standard-its-hard-to-get-released-on-medical-parole-unless-you-have-covid19/ Massachusetts high court rules younger adults cannot be sentenced to life without parole, https://whdh.com/news/massachusetts-high-court-rules-younger-adults-cannot-be-sentenced-to-life-without-parole/ Learn more about Jessica Henry at www.jessicahenryjustice.com

This week on Just Justice, we’re taking a hard look at life sentences in America—a country where one in six incarcerated people is serving life behind bars. That’s nearly 200,000 individuals, making the U.S. one of the most punitive nations in the world. Host Jessica Henry sits down with Dr. Ashley Nellis, a leading sentencing expert and soon-to-be Assistant Professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs. Together, we unpack the findings of Ashley's latest "lifer census"—who’s serving life, for what crimes, and why it matters. Plus, Ashley makes a bold call: end life sentences altogether. Tune in for a powerful conversation about justice, reform, and the future of sentencing in America.   Learn More:  Learn more about Dr. Ashley Nellis at her website, www.ashleynellis.com Read the report:  A Matter of Life: the Scope and Impact of Life and Long Term Imprisonment in the United States   Learn more about Jessica Henry at www.jessicahenryjustice.com

Danielle Sered is the founder and director of Common Justice, the first alternatives-to-incarceration and victim-service program in the United States.  Danielle is also a violent crime survivor and author of the award-winning book, Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair. In this episode of Just Justice, Danielle talks about the power of restorative justice to help survivors heal from violent crime, what crime survivors say they want and need, and her view that prison is not the best way to bring accountability and to prevent future crimes.   Learn More:  About Danielle Sered's impactful work:  About Common Justice: https://commonjustice.org/ To find Danielle's excellent book, Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair   About your host, Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Subscribe to monthly newsletter Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here.

What happens to people in prison who face terminal illnesses? Or develop dementia? Or who are just very old? Must they die alone in prison? Or should they be released to spend their final days at home? How do we make that happen? In this episode of Just Justice, Mary Price, General Counsel of FAMM, walks us through the complex and often cruel world of compassionate release. FAMM has led the fight for better and more effective compassionate release policies for the elderly and infirm, and Mary has been at the forefront of that movement. Mary has testified before the U.S. Sentencing Commission, appeared on PBS NewsHour, NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and the New York Times, among other major national news outlets. She is the author of Everywhere and Nowhere : Compassionate Release in the States (2018). Join us on this informative and sometimes heartbreaking episode of Just Justice.    For more information about Mary Price, FAMM, and her work on compassionate release: You can learn more about Mary Price: https://famm.org/team/mary-price/ You can read her excellent report Everywhere and Nowhere: Compassionate Release in the States To see how your state ranks in compassionate release practices, go to: FAMM's Compassionate Release Report Cards: Grading the States   For more information about Jessica Henry, go to her website at: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/ 

Eve Hanan wrote a law review article called Terror and Tenderness in Criminal Law that blew my mind. She makes the argument that opportunities for leniency in the criminal legal system -- parole, clemency, compassionate release -- seduce us into believing the system is just and merciful, when in reality, the system is far too harsh for far too many. She even takes on the idea of hope and suggests that hope is a distraction from the challenges of our system and the path toward real and meaningful reform. I hope you'll enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it.  Episode Links: To learn more about Eve Hanan: https://law.unlv.edu/faculty/eve-hanan To read her excellent law review article Terror and Tenderness in Criminal Law: https://cardozolawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/HANAN.45.2.4_WEB-1.pdf To learn more about Jessica Henry go to www.jessicahenryjustice.com

This week on Just Justice we talk with Marissa Bluestine, Assistant Director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Marissa is a former innocence lawyer and one of the nation's leading experts on Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs). CIUs are specialized units within prosecutor offices that review convictions with strong claims of actual innocence. Marissa guides us through the work of CIUs to identify wrongful convictions and exonerate the innocent, and gives us an insider perspective on what works and what doesn't. Join us for this fascinating episode. To learn more about Marissa Bluestine and the work of the Quattrone Center: Marissa Bluestine: https://www.law.upenn.edu/faculty/mblu Quattrone Center: https://www.law.upenn.edu/institutes/quattronecenter/ To learn more about CIUs: Conviction Review Unit: a National Perspective (2016) https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/5522-cru-final (report by the Quattrone Center) To learn more about Jessica Henry: Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch her TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to her newsletter Learn more about her award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

This week on Just Justice we peel back the curtain on the inner workings of the federal clemency process with law professor Rachel Barkow, a nationally-recognized expert in the field. Professor Barkow walks us through the stunningly complex and inefficient pardon application process, rates  Presidents Obama, Biden and first-term Trump in their pardon efforts, and speculates about what we might expect from a second-term Trump administration.     To learn more about Professor Rachel Barkow:  Go to her faculty profile at https://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.biography&personid=20660   Link to Prisoners of Politics: Breaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration: https://www.amazon.com/Prisoners-Politics-Breaking-Cycle-Incarceration/dp/0674919238   Link to her forthcoming book (out in March) Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration:  https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Abandoned-Supreme-Constitution-Incarceration/dp/067429422X/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kUKG1SWXX95ejgcdbzYq1Ntmoyu8zP4D8T7GzRBBbIc.LJ3jH0pxb-v-3pyTU5ekGkDNxWd45WOomscPcb6OdfM&dib_tag=se&qid=1739897708&refinements=p_27%3ARachel+Elise+Barkow&s=books&sr=1-2   To learn more about Jessica Henry: Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Subscribe to newsletter Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Learn more about my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

Kelly Savage-Rodriguez defines survivor. She survived years of abuse as a child and later extreme domestic violence in her marriage. She survived being criminally prosecuted and convicted in 1998, along with her abusive husband, for the murder of her son -- a crime she did not commit or intend. She survived years in a California prison under a life without parole sentence, transforming her pain into powerful choices. And she survived -- and is thriving -- after her sentence was commuted by California Governor Brown in December 2017. Join us for this powerful episode of Just Justice, as we walk with Kelly through her story. Warning: This episode contains reference to violence, child loss and trauma.     To Learn More About Kelly Savage-Rodiguez: About her work at DropLWOP:  https://droplwop.com/kelly-savage-rodriguez/ About her work at the Human Rights Watch, National LWOP Leadership Council: https://www.beyondlwop.org/national-lwop-leadership-council/kelly-savage-rodriguez/ About the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, https://womenprisoners.org/contact/   To Learn More About Jessica Henry Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Subscribe to newsletter Watch her TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Learn more about her award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened

Steve Zeidman is a criminal defense hero who has spent his entire career fighting for people with nowhere else to turn. In this episode, Steve walks us through some of his most compelling efforts to gain freedom for people who would otherwise spend their lives in prison. Steve's zealous advocacy for second chances will leave you inspired by his work and horrified by a criminal legal system that seems to prioritize finality over humanity and justice.   For more about Steve Zeidman: To learn more about the Second Look Project: Beyond Guilt: https://www.law.cuny.edu/secondlookproject/about-us/ To read Professor Zeidman's most recent op-ed in the New Yotk Times: Giving Prisoners A Second Chance, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/opinion/prisoners-second-chance.html To find out more about his work at the Prisoner's Legal Services: https://plsny.org/team/prof-steven-zeidman/   For more about Jessica Henry: Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Learn more about her award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

One night, in November 1994, Dina Windle was coming from law school in Little Rock, Arkansas when she was abducted and raped. The man who assaulted her was sentenced to die for a different rape and murder. In this episode of Just Justice, Dina shares the story of her assault, the trial and its aftermath, and how she came to be an advocate for the man who caused her such harm. Small in stature, huge in heart and compassion, Dina Windle is Chief Investigator at the NJ Office of the Public Defender. Dina also serves on the Board of Journey of Hope... From Violence to Healing, a nonprofit organization led by family members of murder victims that works to end the death penalty and calls for more constructive responses to violent crimes. Warning: this episode includes discussion of sexual assault and violence, and may not be appropriate for all listeners.

Have you ever wondered about forgiveness after a murder? How do surviving family members forgive the person who murdered their loved ones? Who gives forgiveness? Who gets it? What makes one person forgive and another not? Join me in conversation with Dr. Kristen Discola, author of Redefining Murder, Transforming Emotion: An Exploration of Forgiveness after Loss Due to Homicide, as we discuss the science of forgiveness in the context of murder.  Along the way, we explore what role, if any, forgiveness can play in the pursuit of second chances for people who committed homicide. And we talk about her work in teaching forgiveness to people who are incarcerated.     Learn more about Dr. Kristen Discola: For links to Kristen's book and for other resources, head to her website: https://kristendiscola.com/ or connect with her on social media: https://www.instagram.com/KristenLeeDiscola   Learn more about Jessica Henry: Listen to Just Justice, my new podcast.  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Subscribe to newsletter Learn more about my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

Alex Bailey, Senior Campaign Strategist for the Sentencing Project, led the push for passage of the Oklahoma Survivors Act of 2024, a ground-breaking law that allows people convicted of serious crimes a chance to show that domestic violence or sexual abuse contributed to their actions. Alex is a master story-teller, who vividly shares the experiences of incarcerated survivors who inspired the creation of this law. Along the way, Alex takes us on the wild political ride that led to passage of the bill in Oklahoma, an overwhelmingly Republican state. Be warned: This episode contains graphic depictions of violence and sexual abuse.   To learn more about the Oklahoma Survivors Act of 2024: Read this article in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/17/oklahoma-survivors-act-domestic-violence Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03j8VHm2bj8 To learn more about Jessica Henry: Listen to Just Justice, my new podcast.  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Subscribe to newsletter Learn more about my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

John Pace was just 17 years old when he pled guilty to felony murder and was sentenced to mandatory life without parole. John spent 31 years in prison until a change in law allowed for his release. John now works to impact the lives of others as a Senior Reentry Coordinator for YSRP and as an active member of the Inside-Out Program at Temple University. John has been featured in the Nation Magazine, CBS Sunday Morning and on NPR for his inspiring efforts and vision of justice. Join us as we talk about John's journey to prison and beyond, the importance of education, his upcoming documentary "Disrupted," and taking his first walk after prison to the local 7-11.   To learn more about John Pace and the work that he does: Explore the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project,. From the Nation Magazine, "John Pace and HIs Friends Expected to Die in Prison."    Take a sneak peak at his upcoming documentary Disrupted: Injustice, Trauma and Healing.   To learn more about Jessica Henry: Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened

In this bonus episode of Just Justice, join me in an unedited post-election night recording of a fascinating and sometimes frightening live conversation with law professor Kim Wehle about her new book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works and Why. We discuss the history of the pardon power, look back on how President Donald Trump used his pardon power in his first term in office, and predict what we might expect from him in the next four years.    Special thanks to Watchung Booksellers and the Watchung Booksellers Podcast for this recording. Be sure to check them both out!    Learn More About Kim Wehle: Website: https://kimberlywehle.com/ Book: Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works and Why   Learn More About Jessica Henry: Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Learn more about my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire

Susan Bandes is a pioneer in the study of law and emotions. The law looks for remorse from people who commit crimes at sentencing and in the parole process. But as Professor Bandes warns, judging remorse is far more difficult than it seems.    To learn more about Susan Bandes: Go to her website: https://www.susanbandes.com/ We discussed her book The Passions of Law, which you can find here: https://nyupress.org/9780814713051/the-passions-of-law/   To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened  

You don't necessarily think of prosecutors when you think about second chances. After all, prosecutor offices are the very entities that send people to prison in the first place.     Join me for a fascinating conversation with Hillary Blout, a former prosecutor and the Founder and Executive Director of For the People, a national nonprofit working with prosecutors to look back at past sentences and bring people home from prison. Hillary is working hard to make prosecutors be part of the solution to ending long prison terms. She spearheaded the passage of the first prosecutor-initiated resentencing law in the country.  Listen as we talk about prosecutor-initiated resentencing laws, Hillary's response to the skeptics, and how Vice President Kamala Harris changed the course of Hillary's career.    To learn more about Hilary and her work at For the People, check out their website.    To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened    

Ben Austen, author of Correction: Parole, Prison and the Possibility of Change, provides a rare glimpse into the often opaque and dysfunctional parole process. He shares the stories of two men who spend decades in prison before they present their cases to the parole board. In the telling, Austen reveals the possibilities and the brokenness of parole as a vehicle for second chances, and asks important questions about whether parole truly allows people to move beyond their convictions and prison to freedom.    Ben Austen's Books: Correction: Parole, Prison and the Possibility of Change   High Risers: Cabrini Green and the Fate of American Public Housing    To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened

David Singleton has worked for the poor and against racial inequity throughout his career. Join us as we talk with David about being a public defender, his service as the Executive Director of the Ohio Justice, and the "Beyond Guilt" project. David exhorts us to "never write anyone off," and persuasively makes the case for second chances.  David is a law professor and Associate Dean for Experiential and Clinical Programs at UDC School of Law.  To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened  

Bobby Bostic was only 16-years-old when he was sentenced to 241 years for an armed robbery in Missouri where no one was seriously injured. In this episode, Bobby takes us through the heartbreak and hope that he carried with him throughout his 29 years in prison, where he took classes, wrote books (8 to date!), and transformed. Even the sentencing judge became an advocate for Bobby, and helped create a new law that gave Bobby a second chance for freedom. Bobby's story of redemption and possibility is a compelling listen.   To learn more about Bobby Bostic:: Website: http://www.freebobbybostic.com/ Buy one of Bobby's inspiring books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bobby-Bostic/author/B0857JNJRT?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1730844878&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened

Becky Feldman is the Director of the Second Look Network (SLN) at the Sentencing Project, an organization that provides support to attorneys and advocates across the country who represent people serving lengthy and often unfair sentences. Becky also is a former public defender, a former prosecutor, and a person who lost her brother to murder. Join us as we discuss how that tragedy shaped the course of her diverse and impactful career in ways that you might find both surprising and inspiring.  In addition, as Director of the SLN, Becky has her finger on the pulse of what is happening in the second look legal community. In this episode, Becky fills us in on the most recent developments in criminal justice reform and in the movement for second chances. Giving people a second chance in our criminal justice system is a passion for Becky. Take a listen to hear more about her remarkable personal and professional journey.   To Learn More: about Becky's work for the Sentencing Project: Second Look Network To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened    

What happens to children who are sentenced to life without parole for murder and then later, sometimes decades later, have the chance to be released from prison? Join me in conversation with Dr. Tarika Daftary- Kapur as she shares her research about what really happens to people sentenced as juveniles who grow up in prison and then receive a second chance. Do they succeed on the outside? Do they go on to commit more crime? Can they be safely released?  Dr. Daftary-Kapur is a nationally renowned forensic psychologist and a Professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University. She is an expert in juvenile decision making. She also conducted one of the first studies of second look opportunities for people sentenced to life without parole as children, a new criminal justice reform required by the U.S. Supreme Court that is happening more throughout the country.    To learn more about Jessica Henry:  Website: http://jessicahenryjustice.com/  Watch my TEDx talk No-Crime Wrongful Convictions here. Subscribe to newsletter Check out my award-winning book Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened  

Just Justice takes a deep-dive into the world of second chances for people who commit serious crimes. We talk to academics, policy makers, advocates, crime survivors and people who are formerly incarcerated and look at the idea of second chances for people serving life without parole and other extreme prison sentences. Who gets a second chance? Who deserves one? Who decides? My name is Jessica Henry and I’ll be your host. I’m a former public defender, professor and an award-winning author. I can’t wait to explore second chances with you. What would it take for you to give someone a second chance?