Movie about Wrongful Conviction opens October 15th

The true story of Betty Ann Waters (played by Hillary Swank), who went to law school after her brother was wrongfully convicted in Massachusetts, is about to bring grim reality to theaters across the nation on October 15th.  The movie is anything but grim however, as this tale of love and fortitude results in the exoneration of an innocent man.  This movie can serve as a true education for Americans as to the repetitive "mistakes" in our criminal justice system... and how they cost far more than the millions of dollars to prosecute and incarcerate an innocent man.

I didn't serve time with Kenny Waters (played by Sam Rockwell), as he was about an hour away from me in Rhode Island, but was stunned upon the news of his 2001 release.  At that time I was in Maximum Security assisting several men whose convictions were also in doubt.  Men such as Michael Brennan (no evidence except a jailhouse informant who bartered his freedom many times);  Jose Garcia (an out-of-towner who initially just wanted a cigarette, but his fellow smokers had personal vengeance to take on others);  Adrian Bustamante (a tattoo artist, also from out of town, whose customers got high and violent amongst themselves); and Firlando Rivera (whose photo-lineup procedures were atrocious.  "Yes, thats the man I saw on the news.")  All of whom are still within their legal saga for freedom, while I'm in my post-prison saga to get a law degree.

Kenny had his sister.  She went form having a GED to being in Roger Williams Law (Class of '98), and she was on a mission.  As both a writer and an unlicensed paralegal, there are times when I say "That's why I want to make movies" or "That's why I want to go to law school."  This movie serves both inspirations.

Hopefully it will inspire Roger Williams University School of Law to fund an administrator for an Innocence Project in Rhode Island.  And one that tackles more than DNA, as there is only biological evidence in roughly 10% of all serious crimes.  Certainly there are several faculty members, Andy Horwitz for example, who would like to supervise a team of eager law students.  As an active advocate for reforms to the system in Rhode Island, I ask the participants in this film to collaborate once again and establish a place for all the Kenny Waters at the ACI, because only one in a million will get a sister like Betty Anne.

 People interested in criminal justice reforms in RI should attend the Criminal Justice Legislative Forum, on Oct. 20th, at Casey Family Services, 1368 Eddy Street, Providence, from 6-7:30pm.  Presenters are DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), RICARES (RI Coalition for Addiction and Recovery Efforts), PrYSM (Providence Youth Student Movement), and ACLU.  Contact DARE for more info: 401.351.6960.