Conviction (II) (2020) User Reviews

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[kokland-49880 · 10/10 · 21 September 2020]

In the video "Conviction" about Jeffrey Deskovic, I had a mix of emotions. At first, I felt like I was just absorbing information. But once the video continued on I started to feel really sad for Jeffrey. He was wrongfully convicted, as many others are too, and it is so awesome that he got out of prison. But when he started to talk about the after-effects of being incarcerated, even though he was innocent, was awful to hear. I have never thought about how those who were wrongfully convicted don't get to just go back to their "normal" old life. Things change and time goes on. People move on. He lost everyone and everything he had ever had. As he has learned to live with all of these awful consequences from being in prison, he is quite inspirational. He had to start all over. He got a degree and now he is a lawyer. I was beaming with pride towards the end of the video. Most people in his position would have turned to drugs and got into a bad crowd. He took the hardest, but the smartest path he could have to make the rest of his life better than his past. Even better, the real perpetrator was caught after murdering a second victim. This specific situation could not have turned out better. But I know others' are not as fortunate as Jeffrey was after he was released. Some who are wrongfully convicted will never see another day outside of prison. I am glad that people are able to be exonerated with help from the Innocence Project, it has done nothing but good. I really liked this video and I don't have anything else to say about it. It's kind of an emotional rollercoaster, which is a good thing as it brings awareness to the public about wrongful convictions.

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[orodriguez-47233 · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

My first thoughts while watching this short documentary about Jeffery Deskovic is how devastating his wrongful conviction case is. I felt really sad for him because he was just 17, close to my age, and going to a state prison for a crime he didn't even do. He spent 16 long years there and had to adapt to this new violent environment that he was in. While in prison he found out that he had to find new evidence in order for his case so it can get looked at again but his family didn't have the funds to hire a new lawyer and now it looked like he was going to spend the rest of his life there. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to think that you may not see the outside world again plus not seeing your family and friends. But once another attorney went on the case he was let free because DNA evidence matched with someone else. Once he was out he had to go back to living normally which took a long time because he was still suffering from the effects of being in prison for a long time. He is a very strong person and this story is also very inspirational as well. He was at the lowest points of his life in prison but once he got out he went and got a degree to be a lawyer. He went on to help free people who were wrongfully convicted and also helped reforming laws on the issue. While watching this part of the documentary I felt very proud for him because he used his experience for the better and to help other people. The filmmakers did a very good job in every aspect of this documentary. I would recommend this to everyone interested in this topic.

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[rliebelt · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Jeff Deskovic was wrongfully convicted for a crime he never even committed. Jeff was a 17 year old boy when all of a sudden two men in long trench coats walked over to him and asked him to come to the police station. Jeff said they needed him to help with a case. And that is Jeff's dream because when he grows up he wanted to become a cop and he thought this was a perfect opportunity. As he realized as he got to the station he was being put under arrest. Jeff was being charged with murder and rape of a 15 year old girl. The NYPD profiled him and he fit the profile so he was labeled a sex offender. As he was in prison he kept fighting in court but they kept getting the wrong information and he lose the federal case. As years went on in prison he reached out for a pen pal to see what the outside world was like. Finally after 18 years of Jeff being in prison Steve Cunningham confessed of killing the 15 year old girl and Jeff was released from prison. Jeff is now 45 years old and he has some inspiring stories he shared. Since he's been in prison for 18 years he missed out on what he should have dine in his 20's. And he wants to do the things that he missed but all his friends have already done it and don't want to do it again. So he can never find anyone to do these things with that he missed. So important things he said about prison was that the prison system takes away college education to prisoners. Which makes no sense because they are treating them like they are worth nothing. He also said that the prison system can't keep up with the old prisoners and all their health issues. He said something about compassionate release. Which means prisoners may be eligible for immediate early release on grounds of "particularly compelling circumstances which could not be seen by the court at the time of sentencing". Another important thing he said was that it's never about freedom because they were mistreated in the prisons. However, he is living his best life now that he is finally free of his wrongful conviction.

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[jcallahan-54297 · 9/10 · 21 September 2020]

Conviction was a very moving documentary. Jeff Deskovic's wrongful conviction story almost had me in tears. From the start of the film, I was completely intrigued and interested in this case story. Firstly, my attention was caught when Deskovic starts out saying in the beginning that officers told him they could use his help in solving a rape and murder crime. It's soon discovered that they actually were arresting him for that crime. That truly broke me. Hearing that those officers basically tricked him, and arrested him for a crime that he didn't do made me really angry. Secondly, I appreciated how Deskovic described the prison system. The way he described prison gave the audience a clear visual on what prison is like, and he made it very obvious that it's not a good or safe environment to be in, especially for someone falsely convicted of a crime. Finally, I really loved the ending of the documentary. When Jeff Deskovic explained that he decided that the best kind of revenge was living the rest of his life to the fullest, and not being angry or bitter really brought a smile to my face. That's something that has got to be hard to do when served 16 years in prison for a crime not committed. I really liked that even though 16 years of his life were taken from him, Deskovic decided that he was going to try his very best to be happy, and to live his life to the fullest. I also really respected that he even graduated from law school, became a lawyer, and even freed 7 people who were wrongfully convicted for crimes they did not do. I really respected that he made it his mission to help people who were in the same place he was when he was 16 years old. In conclusion, Jeff Deskovic's story was really compelling, and I learned so much from watching this documentary film.

A Great Documentary

[aubrielovesmrsmize · 8/10 · 16 February 2021]

I had to watch this documentary for class and I thought it was super interesting and brutal. This documentary uses Jeff Deskovic's story to show the audience the errors in false admission. Jeff Deskovic gets wrongfully convicted because he confessed to a crime he did not do. He was convicted at 16 and his life forever changed. How the police tricked him into thinking he was solving a crime was brutal to watch. It seemed like the police were preying on Jeff Deskovic. This documentary focuses on things like that to expose the criminal justice system. Throughout this documentary, Jeff Deskovic shares how he got out of prison and how prison has changed his life. I liked how this documentary shared the small details about how prison has changed Jeff Deskovic's life. I also really enjoyed how the documentary explains how Jeff Deskovic takes his tragic event and turns it around for good. He now has a foundation that helps wrongfully convicted people get out of prison. This part stuck out to me because not many people that have been wrongfully convicted want to be reminded of their past because it was traumatic. However, Jeff Deskovic took his own money and followed his passion. If I was Jeff Deskovic I don't think I could do what he has done. Another part that I thought was interesting was the interview that was included in this documentary of the guy who actually committed the crime. It was clear that the guy looked nothing liked Jeff Deskovic. The guy explained how he killed the female teenager in the interview and it was brutal to watch. Overall I liked this short documentary because it was packed with interesting information on the criminal justice system. Jeff Deskovic's story is super interesting and stood out to me. Not everyone that has been wrongfully convicted can start a foundation to help others. I would recommend this documentary to people that want to learn more about false admission and about wrongfully convicted people.

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[biseklaniesha · 10/10 · 21 September 2021]

Conviction was well done, intriguing, and informational. I particularly found it interesting when the difficulties that come with being a wrongfully convicted person were being addressed. There are many parts that go into being a wrongfully convicted person that are absolutely heartbreaking but so important to address. The moment that really stuck out to me, which was addressed for a short amount of time, would be when Jeffery Deskovic talks about not being seen as an average human being anymore and solely being seen as a wrongfully convicted person, specifically with his past relationship and that relationship ending because she felt as if he carried to much baggage that she wasn't able to be around. There are so many things that range from little to huge which being wrongfully convicted effects and it is uncontrollable. These struggles are so important to address and I'm very glad that this film did. Addressing these problems adds another layer to the severity of wrongful convictions and the importance of attempting to prevent them.

I also really enjoyed how this film has the ability to move the audience members to feel a variety of emotions. There are moments that can evoke frustration, joy, sadness, etc. Not only does it keep the film moving, it also adds to the complexity of wrongful convictions. While watching films that address wrongful convictions, I feel as if most people focus on the exoneration and the journey to get there and less about the effects of the wrongful convictions after the exoneration. I really appreciated the information given about the effects the wrongful conviction had on Jeffery Deskovic after his exoneration.

Overall, I believe this film was very well done. It was informative and moving. If I had any critique, it would only be that I wish it was a little longer. At the end of the film, I didn't want to stop watching and longed to hear and learn more. Thank you for sharing this story.

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[jaclynmulcahey · 10/10 · 16 February 2021]

I think "Conviction" was very well put together. They didn't waste any time telling his story and didn't drag it out. The fact that they fit all that information on his story in only 21 minutes is amazing and it's well executed. The beginning of the film instantly hooked me. The fact that he wanted to be a cop, and felt honored to be asked to help them with a case infuriated me. Even though I knew where this film was headed, I still had that "Uh-Oh" feeling when he spoke about that. Along with a couple other wrongful conviction cases I've learned about, Jeffery also chose not to be mad when he got out, and to try to let it go and move on. I think that is such a hard thing to do and I commend him for it. 16 years is a long time and I feel like i'd hold some grudges just based on that fact alone. I'm proud that he was able to get his law degree and is continuing to help other wrongfully convicted people. As of 2019, he's helped free 7 innocent people. I think that's just wonderful. It was a wonderful film, showing how the incarceration process impacts a man by letting us follow him and having him talk candidly about his experiences. It's horrible that people get caught up on the fact that he was in jail for 16 years and that that experience might change him and cause him to hurt people. As he stated in the film, the only reason he would have fought would have been to defend himself. From what we see of him in the film, he seems really broken up about that. That wrongful conviction is going to impact his relationships for the rest of his life.

Enlightening and touching

[alexandraspw · 9/10 · 16 February 2021]

Watching this film was very insightful as to how exonerees can feel after being released from prison as well as to while they are still in prison. The first handful of scenes that were paired with the soft music drew me in very quickly. I really liked that the film only showed interviews with Deskovic, as it was his story, and the way that his wrongful conviction impacted his life. There were two scenes that were the most impactful for me. The first was when he was talking about the recreation time he was allotted, and how he stopped going because "you couldn't see the sky." It is very easy to forget or not know what small things are not given to folks in prison, like just seeing the sky, something those not in prison are able to do everyday. The second scene was when Deskovic was driving and was passionately talking about how prison is supposed to be a punishment for a crime, not a place of mistreatment or without care or empathy. It put a lot into perspective about how our justice system operates and hurts people. This was also enlightening about the way that social lives are impacted for those who are released from prison. Usually we hear about the struggle of finding a job or how to navigate with new technological advancements. Deskovic talking about his social life and how it was difficult to connect to people, both in friendships and also through dating, was something new that I had not thought or heard about before. I think it really shows that the way our justice system does not treat the people in it well or humanely. This film was very insightful about the ways that the justice system affects folks about topics that are not always brought up right away in these conversations.

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[mmonette-24313 · 9/10 · 21 September 2021]

This film was very powerful, as Jeffrey Deskovic explained in detail what life in prison was like as a wrongfully convicted person. It was interesting, yet difficult to hear, his story of being wrongfully accused and spending 16 years in prison. He explained many things that people don't normally talk about, such as the environment in prison, the way they are treated, and how they don't even get to know the time of day. I personally did not know a lot about what prison life was actually like, and this film shed a lot of light on it. Jeffrey touched on how prison is meant to be a punishment in the form of loss of freedom, but there are so many more punishments that you endure while in prison. I agree with Jeffrey in the sense that they should be punished accordingly for the crime they commited, and it is also frustrating to me to see some people who committed a less serious crime spend more time in prison than some people who committed worse crimes. I am glad that Jeffrey spent some time talking about this in the film. Also, I thought it was nice that when Jeffrey was telling his story and what prison life was like, there were clips and pictures of what he was explaining to help the viewer better understand what it would be like. For example, as he was talking about the huge prison walls surrounding the prison, you could see a clip of what it actually looked like and how tall the walls actually are.

It touched me when Jeffrey explained what it was like to finally get out of prison, but feel as if he were only 25, and that most people his age did not want to do the same activities that he wanted to do, such as experiencing night-life. That is something that I have never really thought about before, but it would definitely be difficult to go through that after getting out of prison. This film taught me a lot more on what it is like to be wrongfully accused and to be in prison, as well as the after effects, and I was thoroughly intrigued all the way to the end.

S.Hartneck SOC 1120-02

[shartneck · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Although this was assigned for a class, it was a great film that I would have watched on my own time for sure. In fact - I have read and listened to podcasts about Mr. Deskovics story, and was very pleased that there was a film about it. I can't even begin to imagine the strength it takes to come out of a life where you are incarcerated and labeled a rapist when instead you are an innocent man. In my opinion, and I am sure many others can agree, being a rapist is the worst type of human being to be. On top of this, the MO was strangulation - another disgusting trait for a human being to ensue. He had to break down every bit of pride he ever had, face extreme humility, criticism, hate, and disgust. Somehow, Jeff was able to come up and out from this and become a person with more to bring to this world than most people with doctorates or masters degrees. Not only did he lose 16 years of life, but he also lost the prime time of his life where other kids are going to prom, falling in love, starting college, and learning about the real world. I would imagine this traumatic event at the age of 16 was also highly damaging. The documentary shows flaws in the criminal justice system - more specifically law enforcement and I hope that this and stories like his reflect change on the criminal justice system. This film is also a great way to see the innocence project work their magic and understand what exactly they do. The film also provides a perspective of yet another case in that point of history being busted down with DNA evidence. I can't imagine any amount of money or relief would be enough for the precious time Mr. Deskovic lost and after watching this - you feel like a friend or family member was telling you the story and it therefore makes you emotional - frustrated, heartbroken, amazed and stunned.

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[lbute · 10/10 · 21 September 2021]

I really enjoyed this short film. In particularly, not only did it give me a better understanding of what happened in this case, but also the aftermath of being in prison and adjusting to civilian life for Jeffrey. It was compelling to see how this process of wrongfully convicting Jeffrey could dehumanize and emotionally torture someone within the prison system. From conversation with my father, who spent two years in juvenile prison, it always seems to be about the emotional and physical scarring that happens in prison that would mess with someone's internal thinking. While watching this documentary, it was a clear-cut showing of the type of mental damage caused by being in prison whether you are guilty or not. Reading this in a book would never have had the same impact on me as seeing his story on film.

The images shown in the film emphasizes how Jeffrey's attempts to share his perspective on how awful and gruesome prison is. His description gives the viewer a better understanding of what it is like to experience prison. The way Jeffrey describes his foundation of exonerating victims who were wrongfully convicted showed how strong of a drive he has to help these people. This makes me realize how much this system had really taken away from him. Not only did the system take years off his life on the outside, but also removed job opportunities, mental health, and years of experience.

I believe that the film should have been longer because I wanted to hear more about his journey after he got out of prison. However, the film provided quite enough information to make the viewer understand what it must have been like to go through trial, spend practically half their life in prison with no help, and finally having to deal with the mental side effects of being in prison for 16 years. Jeffrey's story is a case study of the power of resilience.

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[elenamercado01 · 10/10 · 19 September 2021]

Wow, what an incredibly moving documentary! Conviction focuses on Jeffrey Deskovic and how he was wrongfully convicted at age 16 for the rape and murder of 15 year old Angela Correa, how his life was affected after spending 16 years in prison and shows the flaws that our criminal justice system has. It is important to recognize that our justice system needs to be changed in a positive way, and this documentary did just that while also focusing on how Jeffrey's life was impacted after being released. I am glad that he was exonerated, but it makes me upset thinking about how many innocent people are still in jail today for crimes they did not commit and how many innocent people have been executed for the crimes they were wrongfully convicted for. If the DNA evidence was not tested and the real murderer, Steven Cunningham, did not eventually confess, Jeffrey might possibly still be in prison today which is very shocking to think about. What I enjoyed hearing about in this documentary was what his life was like after being released from prison. Re-entry into society after leaving prison is very hard for any individual who faces this and there are many people who fail to recognize this and think that these people go back to their lives that they had prior to being in prison when that is not the case. I think that it is amazing that Jeffrey has done so many amazing things after being wrongfully convicted such as getting his law degree, starting a foundation and helped legislatively abolish the death penalty in Connecticut. I am glad that he was able to make something positive happen after all of the years he was in prison awaiting positive news. I also thought that it was hard to watch Steven Cunningham confess to the crime because he showed no remorse in the video that was shown. This documentary is very informative and as someone who is majoring in criminal justice, stories such as Deskovic's are stories that criminal justice/criminology majors should know, as well as stories everyone should know about. Is well worth the watch and Jeffrey Deskovic's story deserves to be heard!

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[haleyahmed · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Conviction tells the story of Jeffrey Deskovic, a man who spent sixteen years incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit. The documentary focuses on Jeffrey's life after his exoneration in 2006, and also him being forced to grow up in prison. Not only did Jeffrey have to face the harsh reality of incarceration as an innocent person, but he also had to endure the difficulties of becoming an adult inside a prison. Filmmaker Jia Wertz does an amazing job of balancing the before and after of Jeffrey's story. We got to hear a little about his time on the inside and the challenges that he has faced on the outside. He talks about spending time in solitary confinement, and its effect on his well-being and mental health. It reaches the point where he doesn't want to use his rec time to go "outside" because it wasn't worth the hassle of being in handcuffs. Jeffrey also touches on "the people that he left behind", and the issues that incarcerated people face. The criminal justice system focuses on punishment instead of rehabilitation which has led to over sentencing, a higher recidivism rate, lack of addressing mental health issues, lack of resources such as educational programs, and so much more. As Jeffrey states, "the system seems to be bureaucratic and uncaring." These are people's lives, and they're treated as though they are sub-human. Listening to him talk about incarcerated people not having their basic needs met reminded me of what's going on right now. A lot of incarcerated people are at a high risk of sickness and death due to the covid-19 pandemic. With many older people making up a large percentage of those incarcerated, this makes them highly vulnerable to the virus. Basic needs are definitely not being met right now, especially since there is overcrowding and a lack of social distancing in prisons.

Since his exoneration in 2006, Jeffrey created the Deskovic Foundation which helps wrongfully convicted people. He's now a lawyer and an advocate for criminal justice reform. This documentary was only twenty one minutes, but Jeffrey's story sticks with you. It's a candid look into the life of a wrongfully convicted man.

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[aeisenthal · 9/10 · 21 September 2021]

Conviction by Jia Wertz is a powerful and thought provoking documentary about wrongful conviction and subsequent incarceration. There have been nearly 3,000 exonerations since 1989 and it can become easy to just think about that number and not the people that make it up. This documentary reminds us to be more charitable with our humanity when it comes to the wrongfully-convicted, like Jeffrey Descovic. It is concise, while at the same time heartfelt and full of emotion. The documentary itself has won and been nominated for many awards as it should. The director creates a portal for the viewer to see inside the myriad injustices that plague the judicial and penal system of America. Through Jeffrey's story we can garner hope... hope for a better future with less wrongful convictions and more just exonerations that are absolutely necessary should we aspire for true reform.

The film itself is under 30 minutes, so it is well worth your time. In fact, after learning that Jeffrey Descovic spent 16 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, time starts to feel a lot more relative. His choice to avoid hatred and bitterness is deserving of immense respect and is something that I believe many people should be able to learn from. However, even though exonerated, Jeffrey still faces barriers in his personal life. Perhaps this is telling of even more reform that must be made. Should we not be looking after those who have served time like we try to look after our veterans - perhaps not, as that is lacking as well. In my mind, Conviction is a bright light on the darkened red tape and bureaucracy that inhibits the flawed penal system in the United States. There is still much more work to be done, but this documentary is an incredible start. Please watch!

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[avangen-07604 · 9/10 · 21 September 2021]

One thing I really liked about the video was the addition of the heartbeat sound effect at the beginning of the video. It really sets the tone for the whole video and adds an air of uneasiness the sets up how they want the viewer to feel as we learn about how Jeffrey was wrongfully convicted. The way the film is shot was really interesting to me because it seems like a typical interview format, but we do not hear the interviewer asking the questions. Instead, the focus of the entire video is on Jeffrey and his story. Hearing the interviewer ask questions would take some of the focus away from him.

Something else I found interesting about the film is that during the interview, Jeffrey talks about how even though he's innocent and it was proven in court that he didn't commit the crime, his innocence is viewed differently because he spent sixteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit. That because he spent time in prison, it somehow detracts from the fact that he is innocent. He also mentions that because he spent sixteen years in prison, dating is hard because it eventually comes up and once it's out in the open, even though he's innocent, women seem to have a hard time trusting him.

I also really thought it was interesting when he talked about his experience in prison and how he was suddenly exposed to the vigilante system that many of the prisoners enact as their way of justice. That when he arrived at the correctional facility, the other prisoners had printed out copies of what he was convicted for and passed them out to other inmates. That they were planning to harm him for his conviction, even though there were many inmates in there for similar crimes. Hearing that Jeffery had to spent twenty-eight days in solitary confinement for defending himself struck a nerve because he was punished for trying to make sure he wasn't killed by the other inmates rather than being protected by the guards or the facility.

Outstanding!

[overnorth-11518 · 10/10 · 30 November 2020]

A truly powerful look at an all too familiar story in our society: Wrongful conviction and incarceration. In line with other important works, such as When They See Us, Conviction puts a human face to the failings of our criminal justice system.

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[djohnson-87891 · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Jia Wertz did an amazing job directing this short documentary on the story of the wrongful conviction of Jeffery Deskovic. The overall flow of the documentary was not interrupted by questions being asked by interviewers, or anything that could take away from Deskovic just explaining his wrongful conviction and how it has affected him since he was exonerated. Personally, I can get really distracted by interviews that I can hear the interviewer asking the questions, so I appreciated this documentary leaving those parts out, but still getting the sense of what questions were asked.

The story of Jeffery Deskovic is something that I think everyone could benefit from watching. He learned some of his experiences in jail, his experiences with law enforcement, and his experiences as an exoneree after 16 years in prison. In the video Deskovic says, "I am 45 but I don't feel like I am 45." He continues to say that he feels more like 25 or 26, and when hearing this that is not what I had expected. The amount of hardship, stress, violence, and anxiety that is explained in this documentary, lead me to believe that Deskovic would feel as if he has lived for a lot longer than he has. Such an interesting concept that I think could be explored more.

This video is extremely thought provoking, as questions and potential assumptions were running through my mind the entire time. I learned a whole lot about what it was like as an exoneree entering back into society with freedom, after 16 years in prison. This is an angle that I appreciated, because it wasn't exactly what I had expected. Conviction is informational, as well as emotional. I don't know if Wertz is just an amazing director, or Deskovic is an amazing storyteller, but both of them did fantastic in this film!

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[ruqamartins · 9/10 · 22 September 2020]

The film did a good job of highlighting the after-effects he went through after being in prison for that long. I think in many cases when we talk about wrongful convictions, we celebrate how the person got released because they found evidence that they are innocent. Even though that is something to of course be happy about, I think we don't think about what they go through when they are released. So many years were robbed from Jeffery. That's why he said he feels 25 while being 45. I think the film did a good job of highlighting how he felt after being released and also being in prison as well. I wish the film covered more of the case and why he was arrested so quickly. I felt like it sped through the case itself. The fact that they only went based on Jeffery being a "quiet kid" as their way to plant him in the case doesn't sit right with me. Of course, there's so much more that went into it to make him be charged and convicted in the first place. I also wish they went more in-depth about the interrogation process as well. I know that one of the most important parts of a case and because he was so young, I want to know what kind of tactics they used to convict him. I know they could of all been covered if the film was longer. Overall, I give the film 4/5 stars because I really liked how they focused on the aftermath of the case and how his life is after. They highlighted the good and the bad that happened after he was released. I wish they went more in-depth with the case but, I understand that time is a factor in that situation.

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[kslowinski · 10/10 · 16 February 2021]

Wow! This was an amazing story of Jeff Deskovic persevering against all odds to live his best life. I thought that this video was very well done for a number of reasons. It showcased Jeff's life in prison through a heartbreaking series of interviews, where he tells of the horrors he endured while being locked up for crimes he never committed. Jeff tells us stories of his personal experiences from inside solitary confinement, where he felt as though he lost all hope. He described the conditions in which prisoners were kept and the injustices he saw occur, especially when it came to rehabilitated individuals and with the elderly prison population. The short film really made you think about what it means to get justice, and how our current system of mass incarceration may not be the best route. Jeff's personal stories touched my heart and made me feel for his situation. When Jeff spoke of his trouble reintegrating back into society, it made me so sad for him. He explained that due to his 16 years being locked up, he felt more like 25 instead of in his forties. Jeff has trouble with things like dating life and finding friends who aren't settled down and would still like to do all the things he missed out on while being incarcerated through his twenties and thirties. At the end we got a glimpse of how Jeff has been making the best of his life, when he graduated law school and is now working for those who have been wrongfully convicted and is working to make policy changes surrounding the current state of our criminal justice system. If I could add one thing to the movie, I would have liked to see more about his early life, how he was supposedly connected to the crime he was convicted for, and more about his initial trial. Overall it was a very eye opening film and I would highly recommend it!

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[ethanlmills · 10/10 · 21 September 2021]

This short documentary did a great job of presenting a firsthand account of Deskovik's emotional story. It gives the listener a feel for how hopeless the situation felt for him. I was really struck by his reaction when his attorney met with him in prison. He refused to believe that he was actually getting out and assumed it must be a joke or something. Its hard to think about someone being in a situation like that where they just have no hope. Additionally his discussion about the conditions in prison were moving in terms of his compassion for the other inmates. As someone who was wrongfully convicted it could be easy for him to disconnect from everyone else there as someone who doesn't belong. Instead he questions the morality of a system that would put anyone, guilty or not, through the deprivations of prison life. I think because we so often hear about long sentences that we miss the weight of what that really means. Living in a cage for decades is inhumane regardless of the crime committed. Deskopvik argues that prison should be about rehabilitation, but instead your life gets put on pause for years at a time. The idea that he is in his forties but feels emotionally as if he is in his twenties exemplifies how dehumanising prison is. An important point Deskovik makes is about his path to being wrongfully convicted. He talks about the psychological profile that was produced by the NYPD and he matched the profile based on the description they got from his peers at school. Putting aside the questionable merits of psychological profiles, its crazy that his reputation at school played a part in him getting wrongfully imprisoned. Watching this documentary exposed some distinctive flaws in the justice system and helped me better understand how one can be wrongfully convicted of a crime.

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[acarman-16156 · 10/10 · 20 September 2021]

I really enjoyed this short film, especially because I think that it humanized the idea of wrongful convictions and imprisonment. It made it very real, as we often hear about these things happening but don't get to see and hear firsthand from someone who actually experienced it. Something that really touched me from the film was when Deskovic talked about his attorney coming to visit him in prison. He talked about how he was in disbelief and shock as she told him that he'd be getting out, not even being able to believe it at all. It was so powerful and honestly disheartening to see the psychological effects of the situation. I also found it so disgusting that the officers involved used techniques to try and trick him as they brought him in for the initial crime, such as acting as if he was going to be helping them solve a crime, not be convicted for it. I was extremely proud of him for being able to go through law school despite all that he had been through, and being able to start and finish it at his age. If there's one thing positive that came out of his experience, I would say that his hardship gave him a unique perspective on the criminal justice system that he can hopefully use to change and improve it in his work. I'm also glad that not only was he exonerated, but the real perpetrator was brought to justice. I just can't wrap my head around losing years of your life and freedom over a crime you didn't even commit. This film also made me think about all the people who are wrongfully imprisoned that will never get out, and I'm glad films like this can bring more awareness to an ongoing issue. I want to know how the legal officials involved feel knowing they put someone behind bars for years of his life when he didn't even commit the crime. Practices to ensure wrongful convictions don't occur need to continue to be put into place. My only complaint is that I wish the film could've been longer and went more in depth to how the police treated him.

SOC 1120-01

[ncamarena-66309 · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Watching "Conviction" was very interesting and upsetting at the same time. For one I thought it was interesting because the way Jeffrey would act and the things he would do such as visit the victim multiple times and be late to school after the day the girl went missing, could be interpreted as him being guilty and responsible for the crime. Besides that, he was also being very distraught which made officers think that he was even more guilty. The officers had talked to Jeffrey eight times and in those times Jeffrey was trying to make his own investigation which is a good thing because it seems like he wants to help and get the right individual but on the other hand it can be portrayed as guilty. When it comes down to things like this you have to be careful of what you say and how you say it. It was hard to believe that there was DNA and it took 16 years to be brought to light, Jeffrey Deskovic spent 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and in that time the individual responsible for the crime was out free. I also liked how the documentary did not leave anything out, they showed us and told us how Jeffrey felt after being released from prison for the crime he did not commit. I enjoyed this documentary because it explained everything and told us a story of someone who was wrongfully convicted. I would recommend this film. I give it a 10/10. It did a good job with details and making us the audience feel for Jeffrey. This can happen to anyone and Jeffrey was blessed that he was found innocent and released from prison. It showed us how he managed to stay behind bars for a crime he did not commit, how he stayed strong and came out strong.

SOC 1120-02

[ahelmer-57333 · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

"Conviction", a video directed by Jia Wertz about Jeffrey Deskovic, is a very moving, emotive piece. You learn the heartbreaking yet absolutely intriguing story of Jeffrey Deskovic, a man from New York who was wrongfully convicted of beating, raping and strangling Angela Correa, a fifteen year old girl. At just seventeen years old, Jeffrey Deskovic was convicted of a crime he did not commit. It is set up so that the whole video, Jeffrey is the one speaking to you like he is being interviewed. He tells his own story to the audience. I wholeheartedly recommend this video, as it is very enlightening and extremely telling of the complete incompetence of the United States justice system. You learn so much about Jeffrey and his story, as the video details what he was forced to go through and how the system failed him. In the video, Jeffrey notes his experiences and how he felt throughout the whole process of conviction all the way until he was finally exonerated after serving sixteen years. "Conviction" also includes Jeffrey talking about his life once he got out of prison, from starting his own foundation to help other victims of wrongful conviction, called the Deskovic Foundation, to going to school and getting his law degree. I highly recommend watching this video, as it makes you feel a multitude of emotions: anger for Jeffrey and frustration at the system, heartbreak and sorrow for Jeffrey and what he had to go through, happiness for him finally getting the justice he deserves, and a sense of bittersweet at the fact he got out, but only after wrongfully serving sixteen years. "Conviction" is twenty-one minutes long, so it is not a huge time commitment. You can watch while exercising, making dinner, before bed, during your lunch break, or at any time really, but whatever you do just make you WATCH THIS VIDEO!

SOC 1120-02

[dhultman-56439 · 10/10 · 22 September 2020]

Conviction is a thought-provoking, heart-breaking, and inspiring film focusing on Jeff Deskovic's fight from being wrongfully convicted at the age of 16, to being a successful law school grad and advocate for systemic change following his exoneration. Deskovic served 16 years in prison, where we thought he would have no chance at freedom. Once proven innocent and released, Deskovic moved on o live his life, graduating from law school and pursuing a career in exonerating others who have gone through experiences similar to his. This film was thought-provoking in the sense that it makes you question everything about the U.S. criminal justice system. It makes you wonder just how many innocent people are wrongfully in prison at this very moment. Deskovic's story was truly inspiring, in that despite his long sentence, he continued to live the life he had always wanted while also shedding light on his experience. He also serves to help others like him, in order to combat the many obstacles of the justice system. It was heart-breaking to hear about what he had gone through while being incarcerated, but even more so to know that he continues to have issues adjusting and coping to the aftermath of his conviction. This film truly highlights the number of problems that plague the way the U.S. carries out justice and the way it chooses to punish. More exonerees need their stories to be told so that the world is made aware of their experience and just how often wrongful convictions happen. So many stories have been swept under the rug, and it is the time for them to be brought to light. All in all, I hope this film inspires others to learn more about wrongful convictions as well as to help support and advocate for exonerees.

SOC 1120-02 Review

[cvavra-74802 · 9/10 · 22 September 2020]

Only a teenager, Jeff Deskovic was wrongfully convicted for the rape and murder of a fellow classmate at his high school. After spending 16 years in prison- roughly half his life at the time- in state prison, he was finally released, but only after he had accepted the grim reality that he may very well have never seen life outside the walls of Sing Sing again. From prison vigilantes to exhausted appeals, the only thing more shocking than the apparent miracle of Deskovic's eventual release is the fact that he was ever convicted in the first place. After having nearly two decades of his life stolen, Deskovic rose from the ashes of his old life and became a lawyer with the goal of helping other people who have been wrongfully convicted and pushing for policy changes. Despite rising above all odds, Jeff reveals the seemingly insurmountable obstacles he still faces in everyday life that are directly related to his wrongful conviction.

Conviction is inspiring, emotionally moving, and rage inducing all at the same time. Though the film is brief, it carries a multitude of messages and life lessons to be learned. From reminding us the importance appreciating the small things in life and realizing what a gift our youth is, to exposing to the horrifying realities of the criminal justice system- everybody has something to gain from watching this film. While the run time is just over twenty minutes, it will give you enough to think about for your lifetime. Whether you are interested in criminal justice or not, I believe there is something different for people from all walks of life to take away from this film.