I knew from reading and research that the criminal justice system was deeply flawed on many levels. This movie beautifully and powerfully illustrates all that is wrong with our system. Men are incorrectly identified by witnesses; even after being excluded as the perpetrator by DNA wrongfully convicted individuals sit in jail as part of a show of force by the DA. Once released, some still have criminal records and find it difficult to get jobs. Some have difficulty acclimating to life outside of a cage. They have no skills. They have no money. They are broken. They are angry, and you will be too after watching this. Wilton Dedge's broken spirit will stick with you. Fortunately, he received 2 million dollars for 22 years in prison.

The problem with this movie is not the subject matter, which is compelling, or the way in which the movie is presented, which is straight forward. Rather, it fails to offer a suggestions for improving what is obviously a flawed judicial system. Miscarriages of justice occur. They occur throughout history. Books have been written on this subject; it has been dramatized and discussed, e.g., The Count of Monte Christo, Judge Dredd, indeed Jesus Christ himself was crucified although found by the chief magistrate to have done nothing wrong. The judicial system is imperfect and the machinery of justice has some loose nuts and bolts which effect its operation. Most of these wrongly convicted gentlemen whose cases are discussed were found guilty based upon the evidence presented at their trials. It was the admission of additional evidence years later, after the their trials were concluded, that caused their convictions to be later reversed. That this country has an appeal system that allows the admission of new evidence after a trial is adjourned and sentence pronounced is a sign that may be the system is in fact working properly, that even years later, a court is willing to give a case a second review.

To those of you who commented on After Innocence, thank you. "I hope that this letter finds you and finds you well." Those words are contained in a letter written by Tim Robbins' character, Andy Dufresne, to his friend, Morgan 'Red' Freeman, in the motion picture 'The Shawshank Redemption,' and how I either began or closed many of the thousands of letters I wrote while wrongfully imprisoned in RI's prisons for six years four months and 18 days of a life sentence for a murder I did not commit. Being innocent made the time excruciatingly frustrating; being a city police detective made the dehumanizing education especially humiliating. Upon my release, the people involved in the single and focused investigation that led to my wrongful imprisonment have attempted to spin a false claim that I continually lied to investigators, and brought the ordeal down upon myself. I think they are mad at me for being innocent and for making them look bad. During the last three years, I have attempted to reconnect with my sons, take care of my ailing Mom, have remarried and have a new baby girl; I have guest lectured at high schools, universities and conferences nationwide as well as other avenues for prison and judicial reform advocacy; participated in several national profiles, and documentaries, including the award-winning 'After Innocence' film; I'm finishing up a Master's of criminal justice at Boston University, researching PhD programs of universities; won reinstatement to the Warwick police department nearly two years ago, still waiting for the 'expedited' hearing in front of the RI Supreme Court since Warwick's mayor is appealing the order by RI's Superior Court chief justice, recently filed a 1983 Federal civil suit; occasionally have substituted at RI high schools, looking for other employment opportunities...my Mom wonders what I do all day. Marc Simon, Jessica Sanders, Brian Johnson and the rest of the AI team were (and are) thoughtful, considerate and aware. They are also heroes in the birth of this new civil rights movement. As my wife Tina aptly calls us: America's newest subculture. Scott Hornoff

Again and again the revelations in Jessica Sanders' documentary brought audible gasps from the Hawaii International Film Festival audience. Here, in stark images and gut wrenching narrative, were the stories of men imprisoned, sometimes for 20 years and more, because of erroneous victim identification, sloppy or corrupt police work and over-zealous prosecutors. Here, in footage as raw as reality, is proof positive that much of the American judicial system is more righteous than just, and almost incapable of even saying to a guy, "I'm sorry," before dumping him on the streets, penniless."After Innocence" shows us the maddening frustration of convicts who fight to re-open their cases on the basis of DNA evidence, and then what becomes of them if and when that evidence exonerates them. It is a deeply disturbing picture. It also shows you the dedicated work of not-for-profit organizations such as The Innocence Project that are overwhelmed in their attempts to help. It is clear that there are literally thousands of wrongfully imprisoned people in America, most of them with little hope of ever being vindicated.Sanders' film focuses on seven men, including a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father, all released, plus a man in Florida still behind bars over three years after irrefutable DNA evidence cleared him of rape. Some of them had been in solitary confinement on death row, frequently for decades, for crimes they did not commit. Eight years after being exonerated, the now-graying dad has been unable to get his conviction expunged from official records, making it almost impossible for him to find meaningful, full-time employment. Despite being absolved of any involvement in the crimes for which he was imprisoned, he is still treated as an ex-con."DNA is God's signature," says one man, imprisoned for well over 20 years. "And God doesn't lie." Unfortunately, our governmental systems don't always tell the truth.Jessica Sanders was nominated for an Academy Award for her 2002 short documentary, "Sing." It was released in theaters and aired nationally on Public Television. "After Innocence" will also have a theatrical release and is scheduled to air on Showtime early in 2006. Eventually it will be released on DVD. It has the power to ignite a firestorm of protest over our failed judicial system and to be a catalyst for important change. Ms. Sanders, who sees herself as a filmmaker, not a journalist, is currently working on the screenplay for a dramatic film. When "After Innocence" was screened at the Sundance Film Festival she indicated she wants to continue to use film "as a way to give people a voice that don't necessarily have that means." She doesn't have a new documentary project in the works right now, but one can hope that she will continue to demonstrate her enormous talent in this field.