After Innocence is a real-life documentary released in
2005 that was directed by Jessica Sanders and written by Jessica Sanders and
Marc Simon in association with The American Film Foundation. Barry Scheck and
Peter Neufeld, founders of the Innocent Project, are featured in the
documentary, and have helped free over 150 people through DNA testing. The
documentary focuses on seven men, convicted of various crimes they did not
commit, sentenced to decades in prison, before being exonerated after the
release of DNA evidence that proved their innocence. The documentary tells how
each men was convicted, their trial process, and life after being released. After Innocence is a dramatic,
emotionally devastating, but inspiring documentary that shows the struggles of
these seven men attempting to adjust back into society after they lost so many
years of their lives.
The general
purpose of this documentary was to broadcast the flaws in the criminal justice
system and show the real-life hardships that these seven men face after being
freed. These men felt frustrated, hopeless, and angry with the criminal justice
system as they lost some of the best years of their life that changed their
lives forever. After Innocence
portrays the real life situations presented in the criminal justice system with
things such as police misconduct, mistaken identity, and weak legal
representation. The Innocence Project
works to prevent wrongful convictions such as the ones shown on After Innocence, especially those placed
on Death Row.
Although the criminal justice system will never be perfect,
working towards a more reformed system will reduce the amount of people that
are serving while innocent. The documentary raises questions on human rights,
freedom in America, and how difficult a prisoners life is after being freed and
exonerated.
Most of the
men were accused of rape, murder, or burglary in After Innocence. Although all seven of these men were proven
innocent through DNA testing, that didn’t help when trying to find jobs, buy a
home, or see their children. The government didn’t help get these men back on
their feet, offering one man only $5.34. When applying for jobs or school,
these men couldn’t have their record cleared, which affected these men on a
personal, physical, and emotional level knowing they would always their past
almost haunting them. After all these men have been through, everything that
could help them move forward was actually holding them even farther back.
After Innocence also focused on the
victim’s family and how the criminal justice system affected their families. Through
the support, perseverance, and financial help, many of the men were able to
rely on their families after being exonerated. As this was an upsetting and
unfortunate documentary, it showed how the faith, family, and hope were the
most important things to these men. This documentary is inspiring to the
audience as it shows the audience to never give up and always stay positive
like the men in the film did.
One of the
exonerees, Wilton Dedge, served 22 years in prison of his life sentence. Even after his DNA evidence proved his
innocence, he had to serve two additional years because the prosecution tried
to hide it in court. Eventually, Wilton was freed, but this specific case
really opened my eyes to the judicial system we follow. How could one prove his
innocence and somebody try to prevent his evidence from being seen in court?
The documentary was real, powerful, and motivating to stop what is being done
to people like Wilton (After Innocence).
