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Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System
He was seventeen when an all-white jury sentenced him to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Now, in this unforgettable memoir, a pioneering lawyer 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 thirty years behind bars, Jarrett Adams sought to figure out the why behind his fate. He became obsessed with our legal system in all its damaged glory. In prison, Adams was sustained by his mother and aunts, who brought him back from the edge of despair through letters of prayers and encouragement. After studying the law and realizing how his Constitutional rights to effective assistance of counsel had been violated, he solicited a relationship with the Wisconsin Innocence Project, an organization that exonerates the wrongfully convicted, which ultimately led to his release from prison after nearly ten years.
But the journey was far from over. Adams took the lessons he learned through his incarceration and enrolled in law school with the goal of helping those who, like himself, were wrongfully convicted. After earning his law degree, he worked with the New York Innocence Project, becoming the first exoneree ever hired by the Innocence Project as a lawyer. He has since opened up his own practice, specializing in overturning wrongful convictions and reducing unfair and extreme sentences. In his first case with the Innocence Project, he argued before the same courtroom that convicted him a decade prior--and won.
In this cinematic 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 post-exoneration, and how the lack of equal financial representation in our legal system is a failure not only of empathy but of our collective ability to discover the truth. Justice for Sale is an unforgettable firsthand account of the limits--and possibilities--of our country's system of law.
Seventeen years old and facing nearly thirty years behind bars, Jarrett Adams sought to figure out the why behind his fate. He became obsessed with our legal system in all its damaged glory. In prison, Adams was sustained by his mother and aunts, who brought him back from the edge of despair through letters of prayers and encouragement. After studying the law and realizing how his Constitutional rights to effective assistance of counsel had been violated, he solicited a relationship with the Wisconsin Innocence Project, an organization that exonerates the wrongfully convicted, which ultimately led to his release from prison after nearly ten years.
But the journey was far from over. Adams took the lessons he learned through his incarceration and enrolled in law school with the goal of helping those who, like himself, were wrongfully convicted. After earning his law degree, he worked with the New York Innocence Project, becoming the first exoneree ever hired by the Innocence Project as a lawyer. He has since opened up his own practice, specializing in overturning wrongful convictions and reducing unfair and extreme sentences. In his first case with the Innocence Project, he argued before the same courtroom that convicted him a decade prior--and won.
In this cinematic 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 post-exoneration, and how the lack of equal financial representation in our legal system is a failure not only of empathy but of our collective ability to discover the truth. Justice for Sale is an unforgettable firsthand account of the limits--and possibilities--of our country's system of law.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2021
45 people are currently reading
3879 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
April 19, 2021
A must-read, highly inspirational memoire of a young black man who, after being failed by the legal system himself, is now working to ensure others do not encounter the same fate he had.
Jarrett grew up in a loving family, he had friends, and he was looking forward a wide open future upon leaving high school. When he was seventeen, he went to a party without first getting his mother’s permission. How many times do kids do this but suffer no severe consequences? But it’s not so easy when you’re black and in the “wrong place.” He ended up in prison for ten years for a crime that he did not commit. If I had just written a list of all the unfairness he endured as an outcome, this review would sound like “friend of the family” five star exaggeration.
But he tells his story in straightforward, forthright manner and unadorned by heroic puffery or legal lingo. It’s a fast read, bringing in just enough information to relay a quick, clear picture of his circumstances. I particularly loved reading about his family, and especially his supportive mother and aunts. I want to hug those wonderful women! I even enjoyed reading about his prison friendships. He’s definitely a “people person.” I loved reading about his tenacity, his decision making, and his heart. While in prison, he mailed off hundreds of legal pleas (colloquially speaking) on behalf of himself and other inmates—all the while gradually improving his writing skills. And his skill shows in this book.
I highly recommended this book for anyone who is systemically marginalized by the legal system, for anyone interested in learning about flaws in that system, and for anyone wanting an inspirational BLM story of achievement. Using his success story as a basis for role modeling, I could see this book being useful for classroom, family, or book club study—especially in an inner city context. Like he says in the book, no one grows up intuitively knowing what to do in a legal system, and like his mother warns him, it’s best to be prepared.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Jarrett grew up in a loving family, he had friends, and he was looking forward a wide open future upon leaving high school. When he was seventeen, he went to a party without first getting his mother’s permission. How many times do kids do this but suffer no severe consequences? But it’s not so easy when you’re black and in the “wrong place.” He ended up in prison for ten years for a crime that he did not commit. If I had just written a list of all the unfairness he endured as an outcome, this review would sound like “friend of the family” five star exaggeration.
But he tells his story in straightforward, forthright manner and unadorned by heroic puffery or legal lingo. It’s a fast read, bringing in just enough information to relay a quick, clear picture of his circumstances. I particularly loved reading about his family, and especially his supportive mother and aunts. I want to hug those wonderful women! I even enjoyed reading about his prison friendships. He’s definitely a “people person.” I loved reading about his tenacity, his decision making, and his heart. While in prison, he mailed off hundreds of legal pleas (colloquially speaking) on behalf of himself and other inmates—all the while gradually improving his writing skills. And his skill shows in this book.
I highly recommended this book for anyone who is systemically marginalized by the legal system, for anyone interested in learning about flaws in that system, and for anyone wanting an inspirational BLM story of achievement. Using his success story as a basis for role modeling, I could see this book being useful for classroom, family, or book club study—especially in an inner city context. Like he says in the book, no one grows up intuitively knowing what to do in a legal system, and like his mother warns him, it’s best to be prepared.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
April 16, 2022
I read nonfiction to understand the reality more closely with facts and figures with all the shades. Redeeming Justice by Jarrett Adams is spot on to help me with that. This book is an eye-opener to understand what's going on in the judicial system of America in recent times. Though i have seen many a documentaries over the sensitive topic this read was never repetitive or boring to me.
To say it in short, 17 year old Jarrett was convicted for a sexual assault that didn't happen by an all white jury. After facing 30 years of term he took control of his defence in his own hand. After being freed from jail he became a practicing attorney from a law school in the same state where he was convicted in.
This story is definitely heart breaking and inspiring amidst racist power structure of our society. Anyone can understand how Jarrett felt through those years of his life being shunned from a good society and life. The idea of “disposable young Black men” is itself quite horrible to consume.
Redeeming Justice is a non-fiction memoir that is a must-read for all people no matter their age, race, or gender. I just loved it for its inspiring story and jarret's iron solid character through all the obstacles of his life to claim the rightful right of any human being. I heartily thank both Convergent Books and NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
To say it in short, 17 year old Jarrett was convicted for a sexual assault that didn't happen by an all white jury. After facing 30 years of term he took control of his defence in his own hand. After being freed from jail he became a practicing attorney from a law school in the same state where he was convicted in.
This story is definitely heart breaking and inspiring amidst racist power structure of our society. Anyone can understand how Jarrett felt through those years of his life being shunned from a good society and life. The idea of “disposable young Black men” is itself quite horrible to consume.
Redeeming Justice is a non-fiction memoir that is a must-read for all people no matter their age, race, or gender. I just loved it for its inspiring story and jarret's iron solid character through all the obstacles of his life to claim the rightful right of any human being. I heartily thank both Convergent Books and NetGalley for this amazing ARC.
May 13, 2023
*This is one of those books where I don’t want to say a lot except, just go and read it! If you loved or were impacted by JUST MERCY by Bryan Stevenson or THE SUN DOES SHINE by Anthony Hinton, this book is very much so in the same vein.
*When Jarrett Adams was 17, he was convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. But, this man is an absolute fighter. He never gave up on fighting for his innocence even if that meant he had to fight for himself, pouring over the prison law and trial books for YEARS. After finally being exonerated, Adams had an uphill battle, being back in the real world, but again the strength and fight of this man, along with some amazing people being placed in his life, he would triumph. Adams is now a lawyer, who has fought for and continues to fight for the wrongly accused.
*Now, writing his story in a quick paragraph does no justice to all the ups and downs the wins and losses in between. So I really encourage you to read this book and see Adams’ full story. You’re going to feel so much righteous anger and heartbreak and sadness. That’s warranted in a story like this, but it needs to be told and it needs to be read.
*When Jarrett Adams was 17, he was convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. But, this man is an absolute fighter. He never gave up on fighting for his innocence even if that meant he had to fight for himself, pouring over the prison law and trial books for YEARS. After finally being exonerated, Adams had an uphill battle, being back in the real world, but again the strength and fight of this man, along with some amazing people being placed in his life, he would triumph. Adams is now a lawyer, who has fought for and continues to fight for the wrongly accused.
*Now, writing his story in a quick paragraph does no justice to all the ups and downs the wins and losses in between. So I really encourage you to read this book and see Adams’ full story. You’re going to feel so much righteous anger and heartbreak and sadness. That’s warranted in a story like this, but it needs to be told and it needs to be read.
April 8, 2025
A book I’ll never forget. Read this one!
This book is both gripping and powerful. At the tender age of 17, Jarrett Adams was wrongly incarcerated and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
“You don’t get it, do you?…You seem to think that this is about truth, you think this is about what’s right. It’s not. It’s not about what’s right. You’re black.”
I felt outrage, astonishment and hope while reading this memoir. As a society, we need to know about and recognize the inequities in the legal system. Young black men are not disposable. My heart hurts for young Jarrett and others who have been in similar circumstances.
Highlights |
•injustice of the legal system
•inequity of race and class
•love of books
•wrestle with God
•comfort in faith
•a mother’s love
Things that helped him to keep fighting… Books, basketball, chess, and church. And a family who never gave up on him.
I loved this book. 🖤 It is one I can widely and wholeheartedly recommend! I think it’s so important. If you have read The Sun Does Shine and/or Just Mercy, I think you will want to read this one as well. And tell your friends and family.
‘Those who decide not to die, choose to live.’ —Unknown
This book is both gripping and powerful. At the tender age of 17, Jarrett Adams was wrongly incarcerated and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
“You don’t get it, do you?…You seem to think that this is about truth, you think this is about what’s right. It’s not. It’s not about what’s right. You’re black.”
I felt outrage, astonishment and hope while reading this memoir. As a society, we need to know about and recognize the inequities in the legal system. Young black men are not disposable. My heart hurts for young Jarrett and others who have been in similar circumstances.
Highlights |
•injustice of the legal system
•inequity of race and class
•love of books
•wrestle with God
•comfort in faith
•a mother’s love
Things that helped him to keep fighting… Books, basketball, chess, and church. And a family who never gave up on him.
I loved this book. 🖤 It is one I can widely and wholeheartedly recommend! I think it’s so important. If you have read The Sun Does Shine and/or Just Mercy, I think you will want to read this one as well. And tell your friends and family.
‘Those who decide not to die, choose to live.’ —Unknown
January 17, 2024
Jarrett Adams didn’t cry for nearly 10 years while he was incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit; I cried nearly 10 times just reading his story.
Be prepared to feel every emotion imaginable: anger, frustration, happiness, relief, hopelessness. Adams brings the failure of our criminal justice system front and center. He and three friends, all black men from Chicago, were falsely accused of rape at a Wisconsin college party. One of his friends didn’t spend a day in prison even though he was charged with the same crime based on the same facts. That friend had a private lawyer that cost more than Adams could afford.
Adams and the third friend had public defenders who were overworked, underpaid, and in this case, incompetent. They called zero witnesses and made no arguments. Adams was sentenced to 28 years— more than many murderers.
But, Adams had what many people in this situation (and there are many) do not. He had a supportive family and an immense amount of hope and willpower. Through his faith, hope, and hard work, Adams was able to change his narrative. His story is inspiring, but mostly, it’s frustrating. I’m angry at what happened to him. I’m angry that we live in a world where these things happen. And most of all, I’m angry that most people don’t seem to care.
I’ll admit that I have a little bias towards this book. I go to Wisconsin Law School, work with incarcerated persons, and have had the honor of having Keith Findley as my professor. Still, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Be prepared to feel every emotion imaginable: anger, frustration, happiness, relief, hopelessness. Adams brings the failure of our criminal justice system front and center. He and three friends, all black men from Chicago, were falsely accused of rape at a Wisconsin college party. One of his friends didn’t spend a day in prison even though he was charged with the same crime based on the same facts. That friend had a private lawyer that cost more than Adams could afford.
Adams and the third friend had public defenders who were overworked, underpaid, and in this case, incompetent. They called zero witnesses and made no arguments. Adams was sentenced to 28 years— more than many murderers.
But, Adams had what many people in this situation (and there are many) do not. He had a supportive family and an immense amount of hope and willpower. Through his faith, hope, and hard work, Adams was able to change his narrative. His story is inspiring, but mostly, it’s frustrating. I’m angry at what happened to him. I’m angry that we live in a world where these things happen. And most of all, I’m angry that most people don’t seem to care.
I’ll admit that I have a little bias towards this book. I go to Wisconsin Law School, work with incarcerated persons, and have had the honor of having Keith Findley as my professor. Still, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
April 3, 2025
This book made me feel every emotion possible. The author Jarrett Adams is my hero and inspiration. I am devastated he was wrongly convicted and that it took way too long to right a wrong against him. I felt anguish, frustration, and sadness while listening to your story. If I ever saw you in person, I would give you the biggest hug and tell you that you’re amazing for fighting the hardest battle ever and continuing that fight to help others! Read. This. Book. It will change your life forever!
March 11, 2021
Wow, what an incredible, inspiring story. This book reads like a movie and I imagine it will be made into a movie one day. Jarrett Adams is wrongfully convicted of rape when he is just 17 years old, and sent to prison. He immerses himself in books and the law, eventually writing to attorneys seeking help with his case. After many letters go unanswered, two different lawyers agree to help him with different parts of his case. His reputation as a jail house lawyer helps build his confidence. Once released, he attends college, and then law school, winning prestigious clerk ships and awards along the way.
This book made me feel so many different emotions. I found myself slamming my hand down on the table in frustration as I read about the inept advice and lack of advocacy from his original lawyer, sadness at the 10 years he lost, and joy and relief when he was eventually released after all charges were dropped. The story of Jarrett Adams is incredibly inspiring. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book made me feel so many different emotions. I found myself slamming my hand down on the table in frustration as I read about the inept advice and lack of advocacy from his original lawyer, sadness at the 10 years he lost, and joy and relief when he was eventually released after all charges were dropped. The story of Jarrett Adams is incredibly inspiring. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 30, 2021
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
As an attorney in Chicago, I was familiar with Jarrett’s story when he was a law student a few years ago. I was still unprepared for how compelling I found this book.
Wrongfully convicted of sexual assault when he was barely an adult, Jarrett spent 10 years incarcerated before his conviction was overturned. This book tells his story as he leaves prison, goes to law school and eventually argues his first case for the Innocence Project at the same court where he was convicted years before. His story is equal parts inspiring and infuriating.
If you enjoyed Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” and Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy,” you will want to order this book for your collection. I’ll be recommending it to all my friends.
As an attorney in Chicago, I was familiar with Jarrett’s story when he was a law student a few years ago. I was still unprepared for how compelling I found this book.
Wrongfully convicted of sexual assault when he was barely an adult, Jarrett spent 10 years incarcerated before his conviction was overturned. This book tells his story as he leaves prison, goes to law school and eventually argues his first case for the Innocence Project at the same court where he was convicted years before. His story is equal parts inspiring and infuriating.
If you enjoyed Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” and Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy,” you will want to order this book for your collection. I’ll be recommending it to all my friends.
January 6, 2022
A must read for 2022.
March 22, 2022
Read this book!! One of my favorite memoirs to date that gives a retelling of the authors journey from being wrongfully convicted and spending 10 years in prison to representing defendants in the same court he was convicted at many years before. It shows an indepth perspective of those who are incarcerated and the transition after being released and the systemic racism embedded in our Justice system.
March 20, 2025
It's difficult for me to put into words how much this memoir means to me.
*Deep breaths*
This is THE book I want to press into everyone's hands (I recommended it to at least 10 people this week). I am beyond grateful that Jarrett Adams shared his story with the world. 🙏😭 This will definitely be my top read this year! 👏
When Jarrett was seventeen, he was wrongfully convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to 28 years in prison. 😡💔 The circumstances surrounding his arrest, trial and sentencing pissed me off!
While in prison, Jarrett spent a lot of time in the law library and helped his fellow inmates with their legal work. He studied how his constitutional rights to effective counsel had been violated. For five years, Jarrett wrote letters to lawyers asking them for help. The Wisconsin Innocence Project (a non-profit organization) took on his case and helped him win his release after almost a decade in prison.
The first part of the memoir focuses on Jarrett's childhood, his family, the false accusation which led to his arrest and conviction, and his time in prison. The second part is about going home, the challenges faced by an exonerated man re-entering society, and his journey to becoming a lawyer.
I was so blown away by Jarrett's writing and hung onto every single word.
"In segregation, time becomes my cellmate. Time has breath, time has a pulse, time has a soul. I don't lose track of time. I can't. That would be like losing a piece of myself". 😭
This was such an immersive read. I could see and feel everything so clearly. I lost count of the number of times I cried (I cried while reading a chapter on the subway today). I feel so angry and inspired. Jarrett is a FIGHTER!
I have nothing else to say except read his story!
If it wasn't for @kenzienoelle.reads I would never have known about this gem! 🙏❤😭
*Deep breaths*
This is THE book I want to press into everyone's hands (I recommended it to at least 10 people this week). I am beyond grateful that Jarrett Adams shared his story with the world. 🙏😭 This will definitely be my top read this year! 👏
When Jarrett was seventeen, he was wrongfully convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to 28 years in prison. 😡💔 The circumstances surrounding his arrest, trial and sentencing pissed me off!
While in prison, Jarrett spent a lot of time in the law library and helped his fellow inmates with their legal work. He studied how his constitutional rights to effective counsel had been violated. For five years, Jarrett wrote letters to lawyers asking them for help. The Wisconsin Innocence Project (a non-profit organization) took on his case and helped him win his release after almost a decade in prison.
The first part of the memoir focuses on Jarrett's childhood, his family, the false accusation which led to his arrest and conviction, and his time in prison. The second part is about going home, the challenges faced by an exonerated man re-entering society, and his journey to becoming a lawyer.
I was so blown away by Jarrett's writing and hung onto every single word.
"In segregation, time becomes my cellmate. Time has breath, time has a pulse, time has a soul. I don't lose track of time. I can't. That would be like losing a piece of myself". 😭
This was such an immersive read. I could see and feel everything so clearly. I lost count of the number of times I cried (I cried while reading a chapter on the subway today). I feel so angry and inspired. Jarrett is a FIGHTER!
I have nothing else to say except read his story!
If it wasn't for @kenzienoelle.reads I would never have known about this gem! 🙏❤😭
March 22, 2021
I don't usually read memoirs or a lot of nonfiction but Jarrett's story is powerful and so important. Jarrett takes you on a surreal and painful journey through his experience with the justice system. As a teenager, he is wrongly convicted of a crime and is sentenced to spend 28 years in prison. Without a great lawyer, Jarrett"s options are limited and he begins to research his own case. You realize how much the system is built against the accused. I honestly had limited knowledge of the problems within the criminal justice system with most of my information coming from Netflix docuseries and Kim Kardashian. I knew it was messed up but my mind was blown. You can't help but get angry for how Jarrett was treated and it makes you think about all the other innocent ones who didn't get out like he did. Jarrett's story is incredible and inspiring to the point where it feels like a movie. How can any of this be real?
Thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for my ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for my ARC.
June 9, 2023
I can't imagine giving Redeeming Justice anything less than 5 stars. Adams' book reads like fiction and more than once I stopped reading to let out an angered sigh of frustration for not only what he went through but for what too many continue to face. An eye opening book I highly recommend.
September 2, 2021
I gotta be honest: I’m so tired of reading books like this. Books about how our justice system is corrupt and racist and unfair. Stories that emphasize how our society just locks people up (disproportionately Black people) and throw away the key. The way we’ve dehumanzied people and raised them with a mindset that they’re expendable and not worthy of due process.
And I gotta say: If I’m tired of it, how do you think the Black people and minorities feel?
They live in fear every single day of something happening to them like what happened to Adams and two of his friends – wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Locked up in prison for eight years (of a twenty-eight year sentence) before finding some lawyers that heard his case, believed him, and then fought to get him released.
Through it all, Adams had the love of his mother and aunts. They fed the fire of his faith which ultimately kept him going. When he was finally released, he fought his way through law school while working full-time. Adams is the true definition of resilience and determination.
This story is inspiring and a great companion piece to Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson and The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton.
And I gotta say: If I’m tired of it, how do you think the Black people and minorities feel?
They live in fear every single day of something happening to them like what happened to Adams and two of his friends – wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. Locked up in prison for eight years (of a twenty-eight year sentence) before finding some lawyers that heard his case, believed him, and then fought to get him released.
Through it all, Adams had the love of his mother and aunts. They fed the fire of his faith which ultimately kept him going. When he was finally released, he fought his way through law school while working full-time. Adams is the true definition of resilience and determination.
This story is inspiring and a great companion piece to Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson and The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton.
May 29, 2022
Gut wrenching memoir of the utter nonsense that is our criminal justice system. A must read for all Americans as we fight for freedom and equality for all. This story has a happy ending because of Jarrett’s tenacity, hard work, and family support, but those qualities should not be needed to live a life of freedom in this country. Thank you Jarrett for fighting for others still stuck in the system and not waiting for them to pull themselves out of it. Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2021
One of the best books I’ve read. I wish it wasn’t a true story for Jarrett and so many other black Americans. Devastating but necessary to read and try understand even an ounce of what they are up against. Jarrett is an inspiration for all that he endured and overcame and the incredible work he continues to help as many as he can obtain justice. The people still waiting for equal justice are even more inspiring.
September 4, 2021
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
Jarrett Adams tells his alternately inspiring and maddening story in Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System. At 17, he attended a college party with two of his buddies. Before the night was out, they had some drinks, smoked some weed, and had consensual sex with a young woman. They are Black and she is white. Shortly after, she accused them of raping her that night. Adams tells the story of what came next and how he fought back against a justice system that treats Black men unjustly.
As the subtitle says, Adams eventually makes it to the other side of the courtroom. His path from accused teenager to lawyer fighting against injustice is gripping. He breaks down the legalities of his own case as he tells the story. And in real life, that’s how it happened. In the beginning, he was just swept forcibly into the legal system. He had to learn to put his feet back on the ground and fight against the racism drowning him in that wave.
Adams spent a decade in prison. He learned to play chess, assess his cellmates, keep his head up, and avoid fights. Most importantly, one cellmate introduced him to the law library and the process of legal recourse. Then Adams takes steps for his own case, as well as helping other incarcerated men. The results are hard-fought. But as Adams makes clear, it should never have been like this.
My conclusions
Adams frequently refers to the idea of “disposable young Black men.” And this is what’s maddening. The US criminal justice system is not equitable. Defendants who don’t have the money to hire a defense attorney are assigned public defenders instead. While they may be well-intentioned, these folks are overworked and often don’t mount a viable defense for their clients.
As a lawyer, Adams seeks to change that, and this book tells the story of both why and how he intends to do so. His strength of character and ability to persist is admirable. He’s also honest about the times his mental health slid into depression and PTSD. And he’s comfortable explaining how he overcame the related tendency to freeze up and stop feeling.
In the process of this tale, we meet the family who supported Adams. We meet some of the men incarcerated with him, in various facilities. And Adams also introduces the various folks who gave him a hand up. For example, one lawyer was basically editor and pen pal as Adams was writing a court document for his case. And when he entered community college, a guidance counselor helped him learn to tell his story. These people and more are integral to Adams’s success.
But no matter how many people were behind him, it is Adams who makes all the winning moves on the chessboard of his life. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. Read it and feel both the outrage and the hope. But also read it to support a man who overcame and is now helping others do the same.
Pair with A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom by Brittany K. Barnett, another inspiring memoir about a path to the legal profession. Of course, for the statistics and scholarly perspective on the US criminal justice system, pair with The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness written by Michelle Alexander.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, Convergent Books, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. Expected publication date is September 14, 2021.
Jarrett Adams tells his alternately inspiring and maddening story in Redeeming Justice: From Defendant to Defender, My Fight for Equity on Both Sides of a Broken System. At 17, he attended a college party with two of his buddies. Before the night was out, they had some drinks, smoked some weed, and had consensual sex with a young woman. They are Black and she is white. Shortly after, she accused them of raping her that night. Adams tells the story of what came next and how he fought back against a justice system that treats Black men unjustly.
As the subtitle says, Adams eventually makes it to the other side of the courtroom. His path from accused teenager to lawyer fighting against injustice is gripping. He breaks down the legalities of his own case as he tells the story. And in real life, that’s how it happened. In the beginning, he was just swept forcibly into the legal system. He had to learn to put his feet back on the ground and fight against the racism drowning him in that wave.
Adams spent a decade in prison. He learned to play chess, assess his cellmates, keep his head up, and avoid fights. Most importantly, one cellmate introduced him to the law library and the process of legal recourse. Then Adams takes steps for his own case, as well as helping other incarcerated men. The results are hard-fought. But as Adams makes clear, it should never have been like this.
My conclusions
Adams frequently refers to the idea of “disposable young Black men.” And this is what’s maddening. The US criminal justice system is not equitable. Defendants who don’t have the money to hire a defense attorney are assigned public defenders instead. While they may be well-intentioned, these folks are overworked and often don’t mount a viable defense for their clients.
As a lawyer, Adams seeks to change that, and this book tells the story of both why and how he intends to do so. His strength of character and ability to persist is admirable. He’s also honest about the times his mental health slid into depression and PTSD. And he’s comfortable explaining how he overcame the related tendency to freeze up and stop feeling.
In the process of this tale, we meet the family who supported Adams. We meet some of the men incarcerated with him, in various facilities. And Adams also introduces the various folks who gave him a hand up. For example, one lawyer was basically editor and pen pal as Adams was writing a court document for his case. And when he entered community college, a guidance counselor helped him learn to tell his story. These people and more are integral to Adams’s success.
But no matter how many people were behind him, it is Adams who makes all the winning moves on the chessboard of his life. Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down. Read it and feel both the outrage and the hope. But also read it to support a man who overcame and is now helping others do the same.
Pair with A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom by Brittany K. Barnett, another inspiring memoir about a path to the legal profession. Of course, for the statistics and scholarly perspective on the US criminal justice system, pair with The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness written by Michelle Alexander.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, Convergent Books, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. Expected publication date is September 14, 2021.
October 25, 2021
Jarrett Adams' story is one that ought to be sung from the rooftops of all who desire that the criminal justice system would be truly just. And while the author and his story are clearly and inextricably bound up with the American picture of race and justice Adams' telling held for me a ray of hope that progress can be, and is being, made. Of course on the down side that gives little hope for current inmates who are there unjustly - Adams' own case took years to resolve.
From two notable authors, who I happen to favor, I point out their assessments of the work: “A moving and beautifully crafted memoir.”—SCOTT TUROW, and “Nothing less than heroic.”—JOHN GRISHAM
I have two extremely miniscule complaints about the story. One, the narrator, Adams himself, insists on mispronouncing "ask"/"asking" as "aksk"/"aksking". While it pains me to point this out it has long been a pet peeve that I just cannot escape(not 'ekscape'). And two, Adams does begin the narrative with statistics pointing out that there are estimates that from 2% to as many as 10% of reported rape cases turn out to be false, but has essentially no follow-up to either convince us that ANY are false(extremely unlikely), or the likely short list of outcomes for the perpetrators of these false narratives. As a "Innocence Project" lawyer (or maybe it was investigator), he does share one of his own experiences of being lied to by a client who later had to recant - and he does not pursue further the ramifications of lying and perjury as corrosive elements of American juris prudence.
All in all a truly worthy work .
From two notable authors, who I happen to favor, I point out their assessments of the work: “A moving and beautifully crafted memoir.”—SCOTT TUROW, and “Nothing less than heroic.”—JOHN GRISHAM
I have two extremely miniscule complaints about the story. One, the narrator, Adams himself, insists on mispronouncing "ask"/"asking" as "aksk"/"aksking". While it pains me to point this out it has long been a pet peeve that I just cannot escape(not 'ekscape'). And two, Adams does begin the narrative with statistics pointing out that there are estimates that from 2% to as many as 10% of reported rape cases turn out to be false, but has essentially no follow-up to either convince us that ANY are false(extremely unlikely), or the likely short list of outcomes for the perpetrators of these false narratives. As a "Innocence Project" lawyer (or maybe it was investigator), he does share one of his own experiences of being lied to by a client who later had to recant - and he does not pursue further the ramifications of lying and perjury as corrosive elements of American juris prudence.
All in all a truly worthy work .
April 1, 2022
I received a free digital ARC, this did not influence my review.
I have to admit that I received this months ago and put off reading it - I've watched a lot of documentaries about social justice and was afraid this book would feel repetitive or dry. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong. Adams' memoir of being wrongly imprisoned for close to ten years is incredibly powerful and impactful. He shares his story with clarity and took the time to process what had happened to him before putting pen to paper. Still, he conveys his emotions in a palpable manner that left me feeling his loneliness, anger, despair, and a range of other emotions.
Adams' story is one of a miscarriage of justice, and the original title of this book was Justice for Sale. HIs socioeconomic status was a huge factor, but the original title did omit the gigantic role that racism took on in his story. Ultimately, Adams' story and life is about redemption and his ability to overcome trauma to eventually inspire and help others. This memoir should be required reading for anyone going into law or law enforcement fields, though I think it is a worthwhile and eye-opening read for anyone who wants to better understand how our justice system fails so many. This is easily one of the most powerful memoirs I've read in a long time.
I have to admit that I received this months ago and put off reading it - I've watched a lot of documentaries about social justice and was afraid this book would feel repetitive or dry. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong. Adams' memoir of being wrongly imprisoned for close to ten years is incredibly powerful and impactful. He shares his story with clarity and took the time to process what had happened to him before putting pen to paper. Still, he conveys his emotions in a palpable manner that left me feeling his loneliness, anger, despair, and a range of other emotions.
Adams' story is one of a miscarriage of justice, and the original title of this book was Justice for Sale. HIs socioeconomic status was a huge factor, but the original title did omit the gigantic role that racism took on in his story. Ultimately, Adams' story and life is about redemption and his ability to overcome trauma to eventually inspire and help others. This memoir should be required reading for anyone going into law or law enforcement fields, though I think it is a worthwhile and eye-opening read for anyone who wants to better understand how our justice system fails so many. This is easily one of the most powerful memoirs I've read in a long time.
April 28, 2024
Wow.
This book got me in all the feely places.
Thinking that when I was in school, just across the Wisconsin border this young man was suffering an incredible injustice.
"Don't give them a reason."
"Just tell the truth and everything will be okay."
Hearing these two frases and then hearing Jarrett's story was devastating.
I loved the progression of this story and hearing it read by Jarrett.
Good sir, I'd love to shake your hand. Well done.
This book got me in all the feely places.
Thinking that when I was in school, just across the Wisconsin border this young man was suffering an incredible injustice.
"Don't give them a reason."
"Just tell the truth and everything will be okay."
Hearing these two frases and then hearing Jarrett's story was devastating.
I loved the progression of this story and hearing it read by Jarrett.
Good sir, I'd love to shake your hand. Well done.
December 6, 2021
A story that could be repeated by too many innocent black men. The situation and the outcome made you realize how significant race matters in the prosecution of a crime. Money can buy justice! Scary and sad!!
February 29, 2024
This is a heartbreaking, hard, very important read. We have to find a better way to administer justice in the United States. I have no answers, but this is definitely not it. People are not animals and shouldn't be treated as such. People are not disposable.
March 7, 2024
I've waited too long to read this, so for that I apologize, Mr. Adams. The copy I read was generously given to me by NetGalley with the working title, "Justice for Sale".
I may prefer the original title; justice, to those who can afford competent representation. And even if they can afford it, good luck to your legal team overcoming systematic oppression. I'm cynical, I've realized. I think my entire generation is.
This book fed my appetite for getting fired up about the existance of this criminal enterprise that we call our "justice system" and then feeling guilty for weeks after reading it because I haven't changed the lives of real people, innocent people, over-sentenced people sitting in the county jail right. now, only 15 minutes away.
I think this book perfectly captures the absurdity of the crinimal justice system and the long difficult road of the innocent fighting to be exonerated. Mr. Adams, thank you for the work you do and congratulations for having told your story in the best way possible.
I may prefer the original title; justice, to those who can afford competent representation. And even if they can afford it, good luck to your legal team overcoming systematic oppression. I'm cynical, I've realized. I think my entire generation is.
This book fed my appetite for getting fired up about the existance of this criminal enterprise that we call our "justice system" and then feeling guilty for weeks after reading it because I haven't changed the lives of real people, innocent people, over-sentenced people sitting in the county jail right. now, only 15 minutes away.
I think this book perfectly captures the absurdity of the crinimal justice system and the long difficult road of the innocent fighting to be exonerated. Mr. Adams, thank you for the work you do and congratulations for having told your story in the best way possible.
May 2, 2025
I consider this a must-read!!
December 31, 2024
Jaw dropping. Addicting. Heart breaking. Inspiring. Wow.
September 15, 2022
Phenomenal!
February 24, 2021
4.5
At age 17, Jarrett Adams was arrested for a crime he didn't commit. He was then convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison. After 10 grueling years in maximum security, he was finally exonerated.
In this harrowing memoir, Adams takes us through his 20+ year journey from being an innocent teenager on his way to college, through his 10 years in prison as a wrongfully convicted felon, to becoming the lawyer he never had. This book covers right up until early 2020 when Covid first hit, a stark reminder that this is current. This isn't 50 years ago, this isn't history; this is now, this is today.
This story is not just an account of Adams' own life, but the ongoing reality for millions of people. He details the innumerable atrocities of the justice system, experienced by everyone in it, but especially by those who are Black. He illustrates what it is like growing up Black in America; to live in fear for your life, to be constantly targeted for the colour of your skin, to be treated by society as though you are dispensable. We're taken right into the center of Black communities that are suffering from centuries of abuse and neglect. We see how these communities are struggling in poverty, how families are being torn apart, how youth are being exposed to crime as a means to survive, and exactly how blatantly racist the "justice" system truly is.
Redeeming Justice is one of the most chilling yet inspiring books I have ever read. Jarrett Adams demonstrates an incredible amount of strength, courage, and perseverance. He gives Black youth someone to aspire to. His voice has and will change the world.
*My one critique is the way sexual assault was portrayed. Not saying no ≠ consent. Especially if the “victim” was intoxicated. I don’t believe this was the case for Jarrett, but I think it should’ve been acknowledged.
At age 17, Jarrett Adams was arrested for a crime he didn't commit. He was then convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison. After 10 grueling years in maximum security, he was finally exonerated.
In this harrowing memoir, Adams takes us through his 20+ year journey from being an innocent teenager on his way to college, through his 10 years in prison as a wrongfully convicted felon, to becoming the lawyer he never had. This book covers right up until early 2020 when Covid first hit, a stark reminder that this is current. This isn't 50 years ago, this isn't history; this is now, this is today.
This story is not just an account of Adams' own life, but the ongoing reality for millions of people. He details the innumerable atrocities of the justice system, experienced by everyone in it, but especially by those who are Black. He illustrates what it is like growing up Black in America; to live in fear for your life, to be constantly targeted for the colour of your skin, to be treated by society as though you are dispensable. We're taken right into the center of Black communities that are suffering from centuries of abuse and neglect. We see how these communities are struggling in poverty, how families are being torn apart, how youth are being exposed to crime as a means to survive, and exactly how blatantly racist the "justice" system truly is.
Redeeming Justice is one of the most chilling yet inspiring books I have ever read. Jarrett Adams demonstrates an incredible amount of strength, courage, and perseverance. He gives Black youth someone to aspire to. His voice has and will change the world.
*My one critique is the way sexual assault was portrayed. Not saying no ≠ consent. Especially if the “victim” was intoxicated. I don’t believe this was the case for Jarrett, but I think it should’ve been acknowledged.
June 9, 2023
A must read for all aspiring attorneys and anyone considering work in the public sector. Adams writes in such a way that allows readers to share in the injustices he experienced and see with eyes wide open, the problems inherent in our justice system. Adams is an inspiration to all of us in his faith, perseverance, determination and passion. I highly recommend this book.
March 10, 2021
Wow. This book was OUTSTANDING! 🙌 ⠀
Sadly the publishing date isn’t until Sept 2021 (thank you @netgalley for sharing this ARC with me). I’m absolutely buying a physical copy when I can, so make sure to get your hands on this important read! I finished it in basically one sitting & highlighted so much on my kindle. ⠀
⠀
Jarrett Adams is wrongly committed of a crime at 17 years old by an intentionally chosen all-white court room & is left to serve years and years of time for something he didn’t do. While incarcerated, he chooses to focus on his faith, while learning how to survive in prison & educating himself on the “ins and outs” of the legal system. Most of all, he learns how to be his own representation (something he shouldn’t have had to do) & for others. ⠀
⠀
👉🏻 If you liked Just Mercy, you’ll love this. It’s a beautifully written inside perspective as he experienced the wronging of the system first hand & was left waiting the lengthy time in prison (sometimes in segregation) until someone would hear his case again. It also clearly depicts how we don’t set up people to succeed once released from prison as we expect them to just venture back into “normalcy”. ⠀
⠀
Adams is poised throughout his years wrongfully spent in prison and displays resilience to the max while fighting a system that tells him he is a “disposable black boy”, as his mom would say.⠀
Whether it be because of insufficient representation, unjust sentencing, or just flat out racism... our system is broken. People like Adams are paving the way to what should already be. ⠀
READ THIS! ✨
Sadly the publishing date isn’t until Sept 2021 (thank you @netgalley for sharing this ARC with me). I’m absolutely buying a physical copy when I can, so make sure to get your hands on this important read! I finished it in basically one sitting & highlighted so much on my kindle. ⠀
⠀
Jarrett Adams is wrongly committed of a crime at 17 years old by an intentionally chosen all-white court room & is left to serve years and years of time for something he didn’t do. While incarcerated, he chooses to focus on his faith, while learning how to survive in prison & educating himself on the “ins and outs” of the legal system. Most of all, he learns how to be his own representation (something he shouldn’t have had to do) & for others. ⠀
⠀
👉🏻 If you liked Just Mercy, you’ll love this. It’s a beautifully written inside perspective as he experienced the wronging of the system first hand & was left waiting the lengthy time in prison (sometimes in segregation) until someone would hear his case again. It also clearly depicts how we don’t set up people to succeed once released from prison as we expect them to just venture back into “normalcy”. ⠀
⠀
Adams is poised throughout his years wrongfully spent in prison and displays resilience to the max while fighting a system that tells him he is a “disposable black boy”, as his mom would say.⠀
Whether it be because of insufficient representation, unjust sentencing, or just flat out racism... our system is broken. People like Adams are paving the way to what should already be. ⠀
READ THIS! ✨
June 3, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up! Short and sweet: This is a must-read. Get it on your list.
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