Just Justice

S1EP13: Kelly Savage-Rodriguez, A Survivor

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

S1EP12: Beyond Guilt, with Steve Zeidman, Co-Director of the Second Look Project

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

S1EP11: After a Brutal Assault, Dina Windle Fights for Grace and Mercy

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.

S1E10: Forgiveness After Murder, with Dr. Kristen Discola

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

S1E9: Passing the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Survivors Act, with Alex Bailey, Senior Campaign Strategist from the Sentencing Project

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

S1E8: Getting Lost and Getting Found, with John Pace, Senior Reentry Coordinator for Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project

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

BONUS EPISODE: Live from Watchung Booksellers, a Conversation with Law Professor Kim Wehle on the President’s Pardon Power

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

S1E7: Judging Remorse in Criminal Sentencing, Susan Bandes, Law and Emotions

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
 

S1E6: Meet the Prosecutors Fighting for Second Chances, with Hillary Blout from For the People

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
 
 

S1E5: Author Ben Austen Talks Parole, Innocence, and "Buck Rogers" Prison Time

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