Blind Injustice
A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions
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5.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Awarded Digital Book World’s Best Book Published by a University Press
In this unprecedented view from the trenches, prosecutor turned champion for the innocent Mark Godsey takes us inside the frailties of the human mind as they unfold in real-world wrongful convictions. Drawing upon stories from his own career, Godsey shares how innate psychological flaws in judges, police, lawyers, and juries coupled with a “tough on crime” environment can cause investigations to go awry, leading to the convictions of innocent people.
In Blind Injustice, Godsey explores distinct psychological human weaknesses inherent in the criminal justice system—confirmation bias, memory malleability, cognitive dissonance, bureaucratic denial, dehumanization, and others—and illustrates each with stories from his time as a hard-nosed prosecutor and then as an attorney for the Ohio Innocence Project.
He also lays bare the criminal justice system’s internal political pressures. How does the fact that judges, sheriffs, and prosecutors are elected officials influence how they view cases? How can defense attorneys support clients when many are overworked and underpaid? And how do juries overcome bias leading them to believe that police and expert witnesses know more than they do about what evidence means?
This book sheds a harsh light on the unintentional yet routine injustices committed by those charged with upholding justice. Yet in the end, Godsey recommends structural, procedural, and attitudinal changes aimed at restoring justice to the criminal justice system.
Customer Reviews
Blind Injustice: A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions
Blind Injustice, which details a goodhearted, former prosecutor-turned innocence lawyer's journey through the American legal system, is a very insightful, masterfully-written book. Not only does it expose the complexities of the justice system itself, but also of the psychology that plays such a major role in it. This book contains several fascinating examples of psychological studies, and captivating glimpses of Mr. Godsey's heart-wrenching cases and innocent clients' journeys to freedom. This book truly makes you deeply ponder the poisonous consequences of major flaws in the American criminal justice system. However, just as Mr. Godsey states in the beginning of the book, it is not a “doomsday” book, and that is true. While exposing the toxic flaws of the system, Mr. Godsey beautifully demonstrates emotional examples of hope and integrity within the same system. He also not only explains the problematic flaws, but even offers intelligent solutions to solve them. Overall, Blind Injustice is a book that every American needs to read in their lifetime, as it gives you a new perspective on the country's broken but beautiful criminal justice system.