Almost Innocent: A True Story of Redemption in America's Criminal Justice System - Inspiring Memoir for Law Students & Social Justice Advocates

I found this book to very eye-opening and unique. It is very engaging and well written. The author gives us a closeup view of the criminal justice system from her perspective as a criminal appeals lawyer. After reading about some of her clients’ cases, I came away thinking we have a criminal INJUSTICE system where convictions matter more than justice to police and prosecutors, and even completely innocent people can get swept into the system and have their lives ruined. The author weaves in details of her own life as a lawyer, wife, and mother and shares many challenges and struggles. She comes across as a very principled, industrious, and inspiring person. Her own husband’s brush with the legal system anchors the book from start to finish and demonstrates how even an innocent person can be caught up in legal jeopardy. The author makes a strong case that our current system of incarceration is just a continuation of slavery and Jim Crow laws against citizens of color. She points out that sometimes it’s just a matter of who you are or if you get lucky whether you get arrested or not. Her commitment to her clients is awe-inspiring as she engages in what must be one of the most frustrating and disheartening types of legal practice: appeals. Her effort to get a new trial or new sentencing is nearly always an uphill battle but she keeps fighting the good fight. Read this book and you will gain a whole new understanding of our criminal Justice system.