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Exonerated: A Brief and Dangerous Freedom Paperback February 10, 2014
The story of a man who stood for something and the woman he loved. Falsely accused of murdering his girlfriend, James Woodard served more than twenty-seven years in prison. In April 2008, James became the seventeenth man exonerated by DNA evidence in Dallas County. The same day he was granted his freedom, James laid eyes on Joyce King, the "prison wife" he'd fantasized about falling in love with for nearly three decades. It was the happiest day of his life. Their mutual attraction was immediate, but a major hurdle complicated their relationship. Joyce was a prominent activist, the first non-lawyer to serve on the board of directors for the Innocence Project of Texas, the nonprofit that helped James win his freedom and ensure justice by working hard to change the compensation law in Texas. EXONERATED vividly details the instant bond James and Joyce shared as soul mates and the challenges that arouse when their disparate worlds collided. This riveting account serves as a blueprint for how to navigate innocence and avoid the painful lessons they learned about justice, freedom, power, and love. A gripping yet tragic story of how imprisoning an innocent man for twenty-seven years destroys him and traumatizes the woman who loves him. This very personal account of a wrongful incarceration and its victim will deeply touch not only those who fight for justice but also folks who sit on the sideline. Morris Dees, Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center EXONERATED looks at James s life from the unflinching perspective of a woman who witnessed firsthand the lasting damage done when the criminal justice system fails and puts an innocent man behind bars. Texas Senator Rodney Ellis, board member, Innocence Project, New York This is one of the best books I have read regarding criminal justice issues. I would recommend it to anyone interested in knowing more about our system of justice! -Alex del Carmen, Ph.D., Professor & Director, Liberal and Fine Arts Program, Tarleton State University"
- GenresNonfiction
Unknown Binding
First published February 10, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 27, 2017
I would like to thank River Grove Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I live in this area and it's sad to say I remember a few of these cases too well. I can't imagine what it must have been like for Mr. Woodard to have spent that years behind bars knowing he was an innocent man. He never wavered on his innocence, not once.
This was a wonderful book, but it's a hard one to review because I have so many of my own personal thoughts to add to this. I've yet to read such a thought provoking book, I'm still flabbergasted that the state doesn't handle these issues better. Yes, they should compensate the individual, but you can't add to monetary value to the years that this poor man lost. It's just all so wrong.
Ms. King is a phenomenal writer, I have gone back and read some of the stuff she has written about this and other cases were the system failed. She fought so hard to help Mr. Woodard obtain his freedom, then to just watch him implode in front of her. It's a very tragic love story.
I live in this area and it's sad to say I remember a few of these cases too well. I can't imagine what it must have been like for Mr. Woodard to have spent that years behind bars knowing he was an innocent man. He never wavered on his innocence, not once.
This was a wonderful book, but it's a hard one to review because I have so many of my own personal thoughts to add to this. I've yet to read such a thought provoking book, I'm still flabbergasted that the state doesn't handle these issues better. Yes, they should compensate the individual, but you can't add to monetary value to the years that this poor man lost. It's just all so wrong.
Ms. King is a phenomenal writer, I have gone back and read some of the stuff she has written about this and other cases were the system failed. She fought so hard to help Mr. Woodard obtain his freedom, then to just watch him implode in front of her. It's a very tragic love story.
February 25, 2015
Joyce King digs deep and delivers a gripping, raw account of her relationship with James Woodard, a man who had spent 27 years in prison before being exonerated of murder. She brings the reader along during Woodard's short-lived taste of freedom, detailing his challenges re-entering society as well as their obstacles as a couple that, it seems, few were rooting for.
Even though I knew, generally, how this tale would end, I couldn't put it down, and that's a testament to King's storytelling skills. Of course, King's version is hers, so whether the reader gives credence to her claims throughout is entirely subjective. What is undeniable, however, is that the wrongfully convicted deserve much, much more assistance and guidance than is currently provided by our justice system, and hopefully this book will bring more awareness to that issue.
* I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley; the opinions expressed are my own.
Even though I knew, generally, how this tale would end, I couldn't put it down, and that's a testament to King's storytelling skills. Of course, King's version is hers, so whether the reader gives credence to her claims throughout is entirely subjective. What is undeniable, however, is that the wrongfully convicted deserve much, much more assistance and guidance than is currently provided by our justice system, and hopefully this book will bring more awareness to that issue.
* I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley; the opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews