This is the most significant book of our time.

At age 17, Jarrett Adams was arrested for a crime he didn't commit. He was then convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison. After 10 grueling years in maximum security, he was finally exonerated.

In this harrowing memoir, Adams takes us through his 20+ year journey from being an innocent teenager on his way to college, through his 10 years in prison as a wrongfully convicted felon, to becoming the lawyer he never had. This book covers right up until early 2020 when Covid first hit, a stark reminder that this is current. This isn't 50 years ago, this isn't history; this is now, this is today.

This story is not just an account of Adams' own life, but the ongoing reality for millions of people. He exposes the innumerable atrocities of the justice system, for everyone in it, but especially for those who are Black. He illustrates what it is like growing up Black in America; to live in fear for your life, to be constantly targeted for the colour of your skin, to be treated by society as though you are dispensable. We're taken right into the center of Black communities that are suffering from centuries of abuse and neglect. We see how these communities are struggling in poverty, how families are being torn apart, how youth are being exposed to crime as a means to survive, and exactly how racist the "justice" system truly is.

Redeeming Justice is genuinely the most chilling yet inspiring book I have ever read. Jarrett Adams demonstrates an incredible amount of strength, courage, and perseverance. He gives Black youth someone to aspire to. His voice has and will change the world.


*Note: my one critique would be that I don't think sexual assault is approached with enough sensitivity. I do believe that the false allegations made by the “young woman” (as referred to in the book) were absolutely rooted in racism. But I personally think it should’ve been addressed that just because someone doesn’t say no, it doesn’t mean they are consenting. It IS possible they were scared or felt pressured. Or maybe they were intoxicated. I don’t think this was relevant to Jarrett’s situation and maybe it would’ve been too contrary to the whole point of the book, but I believe it’s important to recognize this.

Justice for Sale by Jarrett Adams
At age 17, he was sentenced to 28 years for a rape he didn’t commit. After many tries, the Wisconsin Innocence Project finally managed to get him out. His story is one of many black Americans who are locked up because of race. But it is different as well. He came home and was proven innocent by the Wisconsin Innocence Project. He eventually became a lawyer, working to get people out of prison. In prison he also helped get people’s charges reduced by helping them write a letter to not have to go to solitary confinement. Read this story to see inside America’s justice system, a system that so often fails when people aren’t white.