Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption (Wrongly Imprisoned for Rape)

[RamboLiberal]

This was a story on 60 Minutes early in March. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml

From Amazon.com

Review

“This book will break your heart and lift it up again...a touching and beautiful example of the power of faith and forgiveness. Its message of hope should reverberate far beyond the halls of justice.”--Sr. Helen Prejean, csj, author of Dead Man Walking
“What happened in this book will change what you think of the criminal justice system in this country, and challenge you to help fix it. Each of them tells an extraordinary story about crime, punishment and exoneration, but it’s their shared spiritual journey toward reconciliation and forgiveness that is even more compelling and profound.” --Barry C. Scheck, Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Innocence Project®

“Few people have done more to put a human face on issues involving wrongful convictions than Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton. Yet through their shared pain, they have been able to forge a friendship that most of us search our lives for.”--Janet Reno, Former U.S. Attorney General

"A remarkable testament...powerful...A MUST read.”--Studs Terkel


Product Description

Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken-- but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face-- and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives.

In their own words, Jennifer and Ronald unfold the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. I heard an interview with both Jennifer and Ronald on NPR that was just amazing!

If you don't get choked up, you're not human. I bet it is available on the NPR website.

She was convinced beyond a doubt that she had identified the correct man but years later DNA proved that Ronald was innocent. The real perp did in fact closely resemble him. His capacity to sincerely forgive the woman whose testimony put him away is inspirational. I know that word is tossed around a lot, but I actually felt inspired to try to become a better, more loving and forgiving person when I heard him. She is a brave woman in her willingness to confront an error with enormous consequences and to seek a personal reconciliation with the victim of her mistake.