Redeeming Justice

From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System

By: Jarrett Adams

Narrated by: Jarrett Adams

Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

“A moving and beautifully crafted memoir.” (Scott Turow)

“A daring act of justified defiance.” (Shaka Senghor)

“Nothing less than heroic.” (John Grisham)

He was 17 when an all-White jury sentenced him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Now a pioneering lawyer, he recalls the journey that led to his exoneration - and inspired him to devote his life to fighting the many injustices in our legal system.

Seventeen years old and facing nearly 30 years behind bars, Jarrett Adams sought to figure out the why behind his fate. Sustained by his mother and aunts who brought him back from the edge of despair through letters of prayer and encouragement, Adams became obsessed with our legal system in all its damaged glory. After studying how his constitutional rights to effective counsel had been violated, he solicited the help of the Wisconsin Innocence Project, an organization that exonerates the wrongfully convicted, and won his release after nearly 10 years in prison.

But the journey was far from over. Adams took the lessons he learned through his incarceration and worked his way through law school with the goal of helping those who, like himself, had faced our legal system at its worst. After earning his law degree, he worked with the New York Innocence Project, becoming the first exoneree ever hired by the nonprofit as a lawyer. In his first case with the Innocence Project, he argued before the same court that had convicted him a decade earlier - and won.

In this illuminating story of hope and full-circle redemption, Adams draws on his life and the cases of his clients to show the racist tactics used to convict young men of color, the unique challenges facing exonerees once released, and how the lack of equal representation in our courts is a failure not only of empathy but of our collective ability to uncover the truth. Redeeming Justice is an unforgettable firsthand account of the limits - and possibilities - of our country’s system of law.

©2021 Jarrett Adams (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[Brings] to life the horrors of the criminal system through the eyes of someone readers feel they know: a person who loves and is loved. And the links between [Adams’s] experiences and his choices are clear and stark: His observations of lawyers helped usher him into a career as one, just as his experience of wrongful accusation spurred his interest in exonerating the innocent.... The intimacy of Adams’s writing illustrates the inherent violence of our carceral system in a way that would be impossible without his firsthand experience—and without his willingness to share it." (The Washington Post)

“Adams’ story is about as stunning as they come.”—Newsweek

“In this engaging memoir, Mr. Adams shares his experience and his clients’ stories, painting a stark portrait of deeply flawed legal systems.”—The Innocence Project, “8 Must Read Books by Wrongly Convicted Writers”

“In a moving and beautifully crafted memoir, without hyperbole or rants, Jarrett Adams compellingly demonstrates the institutionalized racism of the American criminal justice system. When you finish, you will be grasped by two emotions: unbounded admiration for the author and a need to scream ‘We must do something!’” (Scott Turow, number one New York Times best-selling author of Presumed Innocent)

This book is so important for every citizen of the United States to read.

I believe we as US citizens have been living with the understanding that our judicial system as laid out by our constitution and later legislation is fair and impartial and allows for justice to be served in an egalitarian and expedited manner. That is the lie you only understand when you find yourself in the middle of a legal battle with no money to help buy your way out. Why doesn’t our system spend its money, time and personnel on making sure convictions are accurate and sentences are fair? Jarrett Adams presents his case as one example of our disfuncional system and what it took him to fight it and win. It is a book of faith and determination, and hope. Thank you Jarrett Adams for removing the wool from our eyes.

I’ve never shouted so often in an audiobook

Through tears… Jarrett Adams, you are an inspiration. I shook my head and yelled “NO!” countless times. It’s a happy ending only because you are on the right side and fighting for equity and equality.

Wow

Amazing listen. Got every human emotion. You will be enthralled with this book. Happy and disappointed that it ended.

Everyone should read this

This book will grip you and not let you put it down. You'll cry and feel the frustration the author felt. I have encouraged my children to read this book but we all could benefit from the grit, determination and persistence shown by Mr. Adams. Loved this book.

Enjoyable "Read"

Read is in quotes because this is an audible book, but the ay it was written and read to me... makes me want to go purchase the book. To have a physical copy and read again. I took so many notes while listening. This man dropped so many gems. One that I took with me was definitely the PTSD reference. For black folks growing up in a violence prone environment, instead of post-traumatic stress disorder, they are exposed to persistent traumatic stress disorder. My mind was blown by how eloquently he spoke through his story and how he read the stories of so others. Truly an enjoyable read.

Riveting

Jarrett’s story is powerful. Having volunteered inside the prison environment, the things he shard goes on everywhere. Black or white, if you don’t have money, you are not going to get a good defense. Thankful for men like Jarrett who takes this on!

Excellent Book

Since this book unfortunately still represents our Justice system today I only pray that it will be transformed. This young man was determined to become a lawyer and assist others that had been wrongly convicted. Excellent!

Best book

I loved this book especially since it was read by Jarrod Adans. This was a testimony to his strength throughout the pain.

Inspirational read

I was transfixed from beginning to end. As i sit here writing this review through tears of joy for Jarret, I also get choked up thinking of the countless others for whom justice will never be within reach. This book has inspired.me to learn more about the issue and find a way to make a difference in my community.