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The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions
Sister Helen Prejean was a little-known Roman Catholic nun from Louisiana when in 1993, her first book Dead Man Walking, challenged the way we look at the death penalty in America. It became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Now in The Death of Innocents, she takes us to the new moral edge of the debate on capital punishment: What if ...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
December 28th 2004
by Random House
(first published 2004)
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Even though I found myself disagreeing with Prejean's views on life a lot (me being pro-choice and a convinced atheist) anyone with a heart and a mind would have a difficulty disagreeing with her on the main point of this book. Death penalty is always wrong, yes, I agree, but the death of innocent people? No one would even dare arguing there's anything senseful and fair about that. Yet it is happening, more than we can imagine, due to a corrupt, racist, unfair, judgmental system. Horrible but i...more
BeckyTalbot
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Recommended to BeckyTalbot by:
Johanna Harper
Shelves:
death-penalty
The two cases Prejean narrates are very compelling, especially the case of Joseph O'Dell, who was very likely innocent, but whose quest to prove this was blocked at every turn. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the injustices of the US courts, and if Prejean did not supply such irrefutable evidence, I really would be tempted to think such things could never happen. Sister Helen's narratives and her insight into the workings of the justice system are more convincing than her moral argu...more
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Jan Raether
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Recommends it for:
Anyone questioning the death penalty.
This book is my summer reading for the University of Oregon and I'm really enjoying the book. In the fall we will have a chance to hear from Sister Helen Prejean in person. It's a great read and truly brings up the question as to the morality and ethics of the death penalty, by telling the stories of two innocent men put to death. As an author who has spent time with convicts and death row inmates she knows their stories and their feelings, truly understanding the situation.
Sr. Helen Prejean openly and honestly presents a case for human dignity in regards to the death penalty. Through three main case studies, she demonstrates how our court system is rife with failures, and mistakes that are repeatedly made.
I was honored to meet Sr. Helen in 2005 after performing in the stage version of "Dead Man Walking'. This was a strong introduction into the issues that this book presents. The play was the most moving piece of theatre of have ever been involved...more
I was honored to meet Sr. Helen in 2005 after performing in the stage version of "Dead Man Walking'. This was a strong introduction into the issues that this book presents. The play was the most moving piece of theatre of have ever been involved...more
I met Sister Helen a few years ago and bought this book. Just now found time to read it. Her work is an interesting blend of hard facts and personal experience. She heavily critiques the justice system and goes after politicians for their support of an unjust system.
I learned some new facts and am especially concerned that our lawmakers and judicial system continue to support legal homicide.
I learned some new facts and am especially concerned that our lawmakers and judicial system continue to support legal homicide.
This is a tough read. It's tough because it's a true and terrifying account of our justice system. I dare you to go with the sister for the first two chapters on her journey accompanying two innocent men to the death chambers... Then to chapter three called "The Machinery of Death." It's not a light read, y'all, but it's made me go back to our Constitution. I want to know my rights.
An important read for anyone uneducated about the death penalty and its abuses, failures, and "pernicious effect on society", and a good reminder for those already educated on it with vivid accounts of eyewitness execution of innocent people.
Thought provoking. Prejean claims to "prove" the innocence of 2 executed men but doesn't really succeed. She does succeed in raising a lot of questions and showing the important of class and money in having a good legal defense, thought.
The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions is a brave and fiercely argued book that tests the moral edge of the debate on capital punishment: What if we're executing innocent men? As Sister Helen Prejean recounts several cases of innocent men being executed, and takes us through their terrible last moments, she brilliantly dismantles the legal and religious arguments that have been used to justify the death penalty.
We met Sister Prejean when she visited the ...more
We met Sister Prejean when she visited the ...more
I've read this book before, but I'm re-reading it this week for a class project. Overall, I like how Prejean personalizes the two men whom she profiles, and presents the cases in such a way that the reader is left questioning. This, I think, is the real value to the book--to take people out of the polarization of the issue of capital punishment and bring them to a place where they can see the broader picture--and maybe change a few minds in the process. Plus, I'm a sucker for Prejean--I've s...more
Insightful! Great book about a 2 cases where innocent men have been put to death. I don't even believe in the death penalty anymore. Heart-breaking and fascinating.
Sister Helen Prejean is definitely an amazing and inspiring woman.
But for anyone who has done anti-death penalty work, the book is kind of preaching to the choir.
But for anyone who has done anti-death penalty work, the book is kind of preaching to the choir.
Very informative book about the death penalty. She wrote "Dead Man Walking."
Finished Dead Man Walking a few weeks ago and thought she not only made compelling arguments but really enjoyed the craftsmanship of her book.
lees-mcrae college (NC)
Christopher Award
This book was the UNC Summer Reading Choice for incoming freshman a few years ago. My book group chose to read it last month and some of the discussion ranged around how we feel about the death penalty and the challenges to our feelings now that the man accused of killing the UNC Student Body President last year is going to be tried as a death penalty case. Eve Carson was opposed to the death penalty and her parents have said that they are not in favor of the death penalty for her killers.
Excellent account of two innocent men who were executed. She provides quite a bit of evidence from the cases, which leave little doubt that these men could not be guilty. She provides well researched-factual information in the final section of the book to illustrate just how biased the judicial system is against racial minorities and the poor. An excellent read on a topic people know little about. I highly recommend it.
I have been generally against the death penalty for many years, but could never really put to words concretely why I felt this way. Until reading this book, that is. Prejean lays out numerous arguments for eliminating the death penalty, some from a sociopolitical standpoint, always from a moral/ethical standpoint. Anyone with any sort of interest in social justice should read this book.
I admit that I could not continue to read this book. It is well written and intriguing but I am already an avid anti-death penalty person and could not stomach reading about innocent people who are put to death because of our system that is based on procedure not on justice. I still have given it a high score because it is well written and deserves to be read.
Dead Man Walking (which I also highly recommend) explains why capital punishment is morally wrong, this goes a step further and without taking away from her first book/experience explains that innoncent people are victims of capital punishment in this country and the system needs an overhaul. Everyone should read it.
This is a major issue to me. I am strongly against capital punishment. Sister Helen's books helped to shape my opinion. I've read essays and books from both points of view, and I suppose you could say both sides are biased in their writing, but Sister Helen became biased after research. So did I.
I heard about this book when Sr. Prejean gave an interview on NPR and it sounded so interesting I had to run and get it right away. It chronicles the stories of a few people on death row who all have compelling evidence for their innocence...
Reading the follow up to Dead Man Walking by Sr. Prejean. Jason saw her speak at a Legal Services fundraiser and was totally inspired. I must say, the books are shocking and have changed my way of thinking...
Started this but then decided to put it back on the shelf for later. The stories are heart-wrenching, especially with all the mess with Troy Davis. I will pick it up again after Troy's case is resolved.
Another eye-opener regarding our criminal justice system. I learned a great deal and find it outrageous that so many innocent people have been executed or have spent long years on death row.
This was worth reading. While disenchanted with the death-penalty already, I've never thought about some of the things she brings up. Now I'm horrified.
Please read this.
Please read this.
Took me awhile to wade through. Sister Helen's experiences and the men's stories are truly remarkable. Thoroughly depressing book, but I am glad I read it.
Another disturbing book by Sister Prejean, this time about wrongful convictions and innocent people put to death. You will be upset.
This is not really the sort of book one says one enjoyed reading. However it was very informative and thought provoking.
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Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ (b. April 21, 1939, Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a vowed Roman Catholic religious sister, one of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, who has become a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.
Her efforts began in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1981, through a correspondence she maintained with a convicted murderer, Elmo Patrick Sonnier, who...more
More about Helen Prejean...
Her efforts began in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1981, through a correspondence she maintained with a convicted murderer, Elmo Patrick Sonnier, who...more
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