Reflection After Watching After Innocence

1. Was there a specific scene that got to you? Describe and explain how it moved you?

A specific scene that got to me was when Nicholas Yarris was released from prison in 2003 and was handed $5.37 and was told to get the hell out. When I heard Nicholas Yarris say this it made me angry and upset because they took away his life and was almost killed for a crime he didn't commit and all they gave him was $5.37 for ruining his life. After prison Yarris had to rebuild his life on his own because the State did nothing to help him after he was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a woman. It's sad because real criminals that are released from prison on parole are entitled to health care, job training, housing, and placement in society that enabled them to get back on their feet and get their lives back together but you don't get any of that when your wrongfully convicted of a crime. As you can see all Nicholas Yaris got back was $5.37 for serving 23 years for a crime he didn't commit. This was mind-blowing to me. 

2. What surprised you?

A man named Wilton Dedge was convicted of rape and imprisoned for 22 years. I was surprised when the state opposed Wilton Dedge motions for DNA testing and let him know they would be against his release from prison even if he was found innocent. If he is proven innocent, he shouldn't be in jail for a crime he did not commit. He was put into prison because he was convicted of rape if the DNA evidence shows he's not guilty, he's not guilty! I was also surprised that 3 years before he was released the DNA evidence did prove he was not guilty and he was still not released from prison. He wasn’t released because his DNA evidence was taken five years before the law provided for testing. Florida was more worried about covering up their mistake then letting an innocent man free. This made no sense to me, they had the evidence right in front of their face that he did not commit this crime and was still keeping him in jail. Finally, after three years he was released but the state gave him nothing in return just like the other men who were exonerated from prison for crimes they did not commit. 

3. What questions remain after the viewing? What feelings stayed with you after the film?

How many more innocent people are in prison because they were convicted of a crime they didn’t commit? After watching this movie, it made me realize that there are many people in jail for crimes they did not commit. Some people don’t even have DNA evidence to prove that there not guilty. It makes me wonder If the justice system actually works. How many are on death row about to be executed for a crime they did not commit? Not only are people in jail for crimes they didn’t commit, there are some people who are on death row for crimes they didn’t commit. There being executed because they were wrongfully convicted. 

This documentary was really emotional to me and that emotion stayed with me throughout the whole film. I couldn't even imagine being convicted of a crime I didn't do and spend half of my life in prison for a crime that I didn't commit. Seeing these men back with their families, smiling and hugging made me happy but also sad because so many years of their lives were taking away because they were convicted of a crime they didn't commit. 

4. What problematic concepts do you see in the film, concepts you might research and write about?

A problematic concept I seen in the documentary was eyewitness testimonies aren't accurate most of the time. People can say whatever they, they can lie about people committing a crime they didn't commit. Not only can they give false testimony, they might think they saw something they didn't really see or thought they seen someone commit the crime who really didn't commit the crim. eyewitness testimonies are "hear say" testimonies. the DNA evidence is the real evidence that puts the right criminals into prison. Another problematic concept I seen was the death penalty. People are on death row and didn't even commit the crime they are charged for. Yarris from the documentary was on death row and DNA evidence proved he was innocent. Yarris could've been killed for the crime he didn't commit. If we cant be certain that the person in prison is guilty then no one should sentenced to the death penalty.