Every day, innocent people go away to prison for long stretches, sometimes even on death row. But, few of them are ever exonerated, as shown in the incredible documentary series, The Innocence Files.
The series, available on Netflix, succeeds on nearly every level – concise backgrounds of victims, detailed analysis of evidence, and compelling interviews of victims, prosecutors, police officers, detectives, and families. The only reason to give this series 4.9 out of 5 stars, is because some of the “here’s what happened after” segments were lacking. (I really wanted to know what happened to the exonerated, in greater detail, after they were released from prison.)
The Innocence Files will make you question everything you know about the criminal justice system, and the presumption of innocence and guilt. I hope I never am called to serve on a jury because this documentary series has made me question absolutely everything. In one case, the accused had not one, but FIVE eyewitnesses who pointed him out in the courtroom. Doesn’t matter – nothing is what it seems, and he was completely innocent. In other cases, (now) controversial bite-mark evidence sent many, many people to prison and it turns out that this sort of “evidence” is completely bogus.
The most compelling part of this series is the in-depth interviews with the accused, and the accusers. Prosecutorial misconduct is rampant, and absolutely shocked me to my core. The background shots of prisons and actual crime scenes are worth the view.
In the end, it is the overall positive messages of the victims that really bring the series home. How can someone possibly forgive people who knowingly lie in court or prosecutors who willingly push for a conviction, knowing that the accused is not guilty? And yet, somehow they do.
If you are able to watch the series on Netflix, please make a comment below about your thoughts on the documentary and criminal justice in the U.S. I don’t think I’m alone in my disgust.
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