Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    'Ghost Of The Innocent Man' Chronicles Justice Too Long Delayed

    Benjamin Rachlin's crisply-written new book tells the story of Willie Grimes, who spent 24 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit — and the tortuous legal struggle that eventually freed him.
    by Martha Toll Aug 13, 2017 2 minutes

    Martha Anne Toll is the Executive Director of the Butler Family Fund; her writing is at www.marthaannetoll.com.

    Innocence cases spotlight the many corruptions of our justice system: Mistakes beget mistakes — some intentional, some not. An epic bureaucracy protects a deeply flawed system. Thousands are wrongfully convicted. The National Registry of Exonerations calculates that over 18,000 years have been lost by innocent people serving time.

    How totackles this challenge through the case of Willie J. Grimes. A crisply written page turner, Rachlin's book reports from two perspectives: Grimes' personal tragedy, and the story of North Carolina's criminal justice system sluggishly lumbering toward the acknowledgment that innocent people might be incarcerated.

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR3 min readAmerican Government
    House Foreign Aid Bills Advance With Democrats' Help; Johnson May Still Be In Peril
    With Democratic support, the legislation overcomes a major procedural hurdle and is expected to head to a weekend vote by the full House.
    NPR4 min read
    Which Scientists Get Mentioned In The News? Mostly Ones With Anglo Names, Says Study
    A new study finds that in news stories about scientific research, U.S. media were less likely to mention a scientist if they had an East Asian or African name, as compared to one with an Anglo name.
    NPR4 min read
    Wildfire Smoke Contributes To Thousands Of Deaths Each Year In The U.S.
    Two new studies show the unseen toll smoke is taking on people across the country. Climate change is likely to make the problem even bigger.

    Related Books & Audiobooks