In the book Redeeming Justice, Jarret Adams retells his unbelievable story of his life from defendant to defender. This normally wouldn’t be the type of book I pick up to read, however once I read the book blub; I felt this was a book I needed to read. I personally have a background in the legal field and this book made me shiver with the way this case was consistently overlooked, brushed over and handled in all of the wrong ways.
Adams is a 17 year old boy who just graduated from high school. The summer between high school and college he decides to go to a party to with some friends. A few months later he is charged with rape. The book then continues to follow Jarret through his court cases and eventual incarceration, based solely on a false accusation. The book then follows Adams through his fight for release, his life and emotions after prison and his triumphant Law School Graduation.
As much as this book made me angry and broke my heart in made me rejoice and feel pride for this young man. This ultimately uplifting tale proves hope for the hopeless and power to the powerless.
Adams does an amazing job with putting his story into a written document that will forever life and breathe and serve as the very REAL reminder of how our legal system fails.. but you do not have to become its failure.

This is an incredible book. I stayed up all night reading it, because I just couldn’t put it down. Jarrett Adams is one of the most determined and tenacious people that I have ever heard about. This book really made me see the inequity of the United State justice system. I can’t imagine surviving the situation that he was in, but he did. And after doing so, he got an education and eventually became an attorney fighting for others who are currently in the same situation. His book is educational and inspiring, and I admire his courage in the face of almost insurmountable odds. Definitely a great read! I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.