For life: The Pilot
What was Aaron Wallace convicted of?
Drug trafficking (falsely accused)
True or False: Black men are incarcerated at the same rate as white men.
False
What percentage of the U.S. prison population is Black?
Approximately 33%, though Black people make up only 13% of the population
What right do you invoke when you say, “I want a lawyer”?
Right to legal counsel (Sixth Amendment)
This Illinois man spent 20 years on death row before being exonerated by DNA.
Anthony Porter
What job did Aaron gain while in prison?
He became a licensed attorney
What is one major reason for wrongful convictions in Black communities?
Racial bias in policing and prosecution
As of 2023, how many known wrongful convictions have been overturned in the U.S.?
Over 3,300 (via the National Registry of Exonerations)
What does the Miranda warning protect?
Your right to remain silent and avoid self-incrimination
This group of teens was wrongfully convicted in the Central Park Jogger case.
The Central Park Five (now known as the Exonerated Five)
Who does Aaron represent in his first courtroom case?
A fellow inmate appealing his conviction
What does prosecutorial misconduct often involve?
Withholding evidence, coercing witnesses, or presenting false testimony
Name a type of evidence most linked to exonerations.
DNA evidence
What is habeas corpus?
A legal action to challenge unlawful imprisonment
What organization works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing?
The Innocence Project
What unique legal condition allows Aaron to practice law?
He passed the bar and received special clearance to represent clients while still incarcerated
Which amendment guarantees a fair trial?
Sixth Amendment
What percentage of wrongful convictions involve Black defendants (according to NRE)?
Roughly 50%
What is the role of a public defender?
To provide legal defense to those who can’t afford a lawyer
Kalief Browder was held for three years without trial for allegedly stealing what?
A backpack
What does Aaron’s case symbolize in relation to wrongful incarceration and systemic racism?
It represents the disproportionate incarceration of Black men and the use of the justice system as a tool of oppression
How do cash bail systems disproportionately affect Black defendants?
They often can’t afford bail, leading to extended pretrial incarceration even when innocent
Which crime category has the highest wrongful conviction rate for Black men?
Murder
Why is the right to a speedy trial important?
Prevents prolonged pretrial incarceration and ensures fairness
This man became the first exoneree in New York to practice law while still incarcerated.
Isaac Wright Jr. (inspiration for Aaron Wallace in For Life)