May 1 2021
Wrongfully Convicted w/Jeffrey Deskovic (s02e06)
If you go back a couple of episodes, you may remember the episode where I spoke with film maker Jia Wertz about her short film "Conviction" and was instantly shocked by the loopholes and problems with our justice system. Finally, I got the chance to speak with the subject of that film, Jeff Deskovic. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed making this episode. Please check the links at the bottom for more info.
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Jeffrey Mark Deskovic (born October 27, 1973)[1] is an American man from upstate New York known for having been wrongly convicted in 1990 at the age of seventeen of raping, beating, and strangling Angela Correa, a 15-year-old high school classmate at Peekskill High School.
He made a false confession, which he withdrew, and his DNA was excluded from that left at the scene. He was nonetheless convicted, based on police testimony that he had confessed. He served sixteen years, although he continued to maintain his innocence and appealed his conviction. He requested post-conviction DNA testing, but the DA's office, then headed by Jeanine Pirro, refused to accept his lay request.
After a new DA was elected and Deskovic gained support by the Innocence Project, in 2006 DNA testing was conducted for Deskovic. It excluded his DNA from the evidence at the crime scene. Significantly, the forensic DNA was found to match that of an inmate already serving time for murder. The latter man confessed to the attack on Correa and was convicted of her death.
Deskovic was exonerated and released in 2006. He has become an advocate for criminal justice reform. In 2014 a jury found in favor of Deskovic and awarded him $41.6 million in a federal civil suit against the county for wrongful imprisonment. Due to his pretrial settlement with the county, Deskovic was limited to receive $10 million. He has set up a foundation to work for reform.
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In what may be my favorite episode to date, I was able to sit and talk with Jeff about his wrongful conviction, prison time, his eventual exoneration and how he had to learn to adapt to "normal life" again. He was very kind and open regarding this sensitive subject. And I vowed to help him get the word out there to as many people as I can. So, if possible, please take a look at these following foundations and links for more information on how you can help this cause.
Give to the Deskovic Foundation today!!! (Patreon)
Help out just by shopping through Amazon!!! (No cost to you through Amazon Smile)
The Deskovic Foundation
The Innocence Project
restorativejusticeinternational
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Jeff's Social Media Links:
Instagram: @JeffreyDeskovic
also @DeskovicFoundation
Facebook: Jeffrey Deskovic
also The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation
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You can watch the short film about Jeffrey's ordeal here: Conviction on Amazon Prime by Jia Wertz
