Rebuilding Hope After a Wrongful Conviction with Gio Romero

Episode Outline:

(00:00:00) Tara Trask introduces Gio Hernandez Romero and his wrongful conviction case.
(00:03:17) Growing up in Los Angeles and his family background.
(00:08:39) How police label young people as gang members.
(00:14:19) Being tried as an adult and facing a 50-years-to-life sentence.
(00:16:47) Spending six years in jail before conviction and sentencing.
(00:18:00) Adjusting to life in prison and the loss of hope.
(00:19:00) How his sister and family kept him motivated to keep learning.
(00:23:12) Loyola Law School’s Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic takes his case.
(00:25:00) The Conviction Integrity Unit’s role in reopening and exonerating his case.
(00:29:14) Broader discussion on wrongful convictions and needed criminal justice reform.
(00:33:00) Joining The Last Mile and learning to code while incarcerated.
(00:35:30) How coding and education restored his purpose and self-worth.

(00:37:49) Returning to freedom and facing culture shock after 17 years.
(00:40:12) Learning to live as an adult for the first time and gaining independence.
(00:49:10) Sharing a message of hope and perseverance with others inside.
(00:55:06) The cell phone evidence that proved his innocence.
(00:57:00) Closing thoughts on gratitude, healing, and the power of reform.

The Last Mile Radio is a production of The Last Mile and Sirius XM Radio. The show's executive producers are Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti at TLM and Liz Aiello at Sirius XM. The show is produced by Robert Roche at TLM, with technical production by Greg Sahakian, James Bilodeau at Sirius XM. Original music by Maserati-E. For more, visit www.thelastmileradio.org