The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation

09/04/2026

Throwback Thursday to 11 years ago, when our founder, Jeffrey Deskovic, appeared with John Stossel on Fox News to discuss wrongful convictions and the urgent need for criminal justice reform.

Jeffrey was wrongfully convicted at just 17 years old and spent nearly 16 years in prison before DNA evidence proved his innocence. Since his exoneration, he has devoted his life to preventing others from suffering the same injustice—bringing this message to audiences across the political spectrum and reminding people that wrongful convictions are not a partisan issue.

More than a decade later, Jeffrey is still speaking out, fighting for meaningful legislative reform and working through The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice to free innocent people and help exonerees rebuild their lives.

The work continues. ⚖️

09/04/2026

09/01/2026

Recovery doesn’t erase responsibility. What does meaningful change look like after someone has caused lasting harm?

On Barz Unlocked, Sammy “Sammytown” McBride, frontman of Fang, reflects on addiction, incarceration and life after his conviction for voluntary manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend, Dixie Lee Carney.

The conversation explores sobriety, his work counseling others and the importance of seeking help before destructive patterns escalate. It also raises difficult questions about rehabilitation and accountability—without losing sight of the person whose life was taken.

The full episode is available now, whenever you have time to watch.

Watch the full interview:
https://www.facebook.com/ilyouth/videos/sammy-mcbride-of-fang-drops-by-barz-unlocked-todayhe-talks-about-how-a-lifetime-/1384017076681934/

08/30/2026

Thanks to all who joined us at Sag Harbor Cinema for “Wrongful Convictions in America.” Despite the beautiful Saturday weather in the Hamptons, the community filled the theater for a moving 35-minute excerpt from Jia Rizvi’s documentary Sixteen Years.

The film chronicles our founder Jeffrey Deskovic’s wrongful conviction at only 17, the 16 years he spent imprisoned for a crime he did not commit and his journey from exoneree to attorney and justice advocate.

The screening was followed by an insightful panel featuring Jeffrey; filmmaker Jia Rizvi; and Jason Flom, founder of Lava for Good and host of Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom. Beth Lee, LCSW, thoughtfully moderated the discussion.

In this clip, graciously captured and shared by local entrepreneur Tonia Torrellas during the post-screening Q&A, Jeffrey explains why there must be a level playing field between prosecutors’ offices and public defense.

Too often, taxpayer-funded defense is critically underfunded. Public defenders may carry overwhelming caseloads while lacking sufficient access to investigators, expert witnesses and other resources needed to build a strong defense. When one side has considerably greater funding, staffing and time, innocent people can—and do—fall through the cracks.

The panel also explored prosecutorial accountability, jury education and other reforms needed to prevent wrongful convictions. The discussion was livestreamed on Jeffrey’s social channels, extending its reach beyond the theater. Afterward, attendees gathered in the cinema’s halls to continue the conversation with the panelists and one another.

A special thank-you to Tonia for preserving this important moment, and to Sag Harbor Cinema and the nonprofit Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center for welcoming us into this historic, community-owned cultural hub.

The event also raised at least $11,000 to support our work freeing innocent people and preventing wrongful convictions.

The screening may have ended, but the conversation—and the work—must continue.

08/28/2026

Throwback Thursday to a visit that meant so much to both of our teams.

Earlier this summer, Jeffrey Deskovic and his fiancée, Samantha, traveled to Anchorage for the Alaska Innocence Project’s spring fundraiser, “Starting Life Again.” It was wonderful to welcome them to Alaska and to have the Alaska Innocence Project and Deskovic Foundation teams connect in person—not simply as organizations, but as people who care deeply about the same work.

Jeffrey knows firsthand why that work matters. He was wrongfully convicted at 17—even though DNA evidence excluded him—and spent nearly 16 years in prison before DNA testing proved his innocence in 2006. He later became an attorney and founded the Deskovic Foundation to help free others, support exonerees and prevent future wrongful convictions.

That evening, Jeffrey spoke honestly about what was taken from him, the challenges of rebuilding a life after exoneration and how many innocent people are released with little compensation or support.

His visit was also a powerful reminder that the innocence movement is bigger than any one person, case, organization or location. State-based Innocence Projects, national organizations and international advocates may each play different roles, but we are all connected by the same belief: no innocent person should spend a single day in prison.

There is progress to celebrate, too. Beginning September 16, Alaska Senate Bill 167 will allow eligible wrongfully convicted Alaskans to seek Permanent Fund Dividends withheld during their unjust incarceration—an important step forward, even as much more remains to be done.

We may work thousands of miles apart, but none of us is doing this work alone. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another, strengthen these connections and keep fighting for justice together.

08/24/2026

What we’re reading: Burden of Concrete by William S. Hayes.

This is our latest recommendation for anyone interested in understanding incarceration beyond statistics and headlines.

In this deeply personal memoir, Hayes recounts a life shaped by addiction and repeated confinement—from juvenile hall and county jail to California’s prison system. Rather than glamorizing incarceration or presenting recovery as a simple transformation, he explores the recurring cycle of addiction, street life, imprisonment, release and trying again.

Although this is not a wrongful-conviction story, it offers another important perspective on the human realities of incarceration: what it feels like to live behind bars, how destructive cycles repeat and how difficult rebuilding a life can be.

Readers currently rate Burden of Concrete 4.45 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. We recommend adding it to your reading list.

You can also hear directly from William S. Hayes today on Barz Unlocked—the podcast that previously interviewed Jeffrey Deskovic. Watch at 1:39 PM Eastern/12:39 PM Central on the Illinois Youth and Family Services page:

https://www.facebook.com/ilyouth/

Learn more about the book:

Publisher:
https://punkhostagepress.com/burden-of-concrete/

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53992682-burden-of-concrete

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Burden-Concrete-William-S-Hayes/dp/1940213061

BARZ UNLOCKED Punk Hostage Press

08/24/2026

It is hard to believe that nearly 20 years have passed since this archival photograph captured Jeffrey Deskovic being interviewed at Mercy College approximately one year after his 2006 exoneration.

After being wrongfully convicted as a teenager and imprisoned for 16 years for a crime he did not commit, Jeffrey began sharing his story and transforming his experience into a lifelong fight for justice.

Nearly two decades later, he continues that work as an attorney, advocate and founder of the Deskovic Foundation.

Hear Jeffrey discuss his story in the newer, 53-minute interview “Heartbreak, Resilience and Redemption—The Jeff Deskovic Story,” posted by Ed Kowalski on Clyp:

https://clyp.it/piirjplo

Please listen and share to help raise awareness of wrongful convictions and the urgent need for reform.

Archival photograph: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News/Gannett News Service.

08/21/2026

For anyone unfamiliar, “Kinda Chic” is a lighthearted trend organizations are using to highlight the causes and accomplishments that matter to them. We created our own version—but Jeffrey’s story and the Foundation’s work are far more than kinda chic.

Bringing innocent people home, supporting exonerees, and reforming the justice system require tremendous dedication, expertise, resources, and community support.

Speaking of documentaries, it would be kinda chic if you joined us for Sixteen Years!

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jia Rizvi, the documentary chronicles Jeffrey’s wrongful conviction, 16 years of imprisonment, exoneration, and journey to becoming a justice advocate. A special 30-minute screening will be followed by a panel with Jeffrey, Jia, and Jason Flom, founder of Lava for Good and host of Wrongful Conviction.

Saturday, August 29
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sag Harbor Cinema
Free—advance RSVP required

RSVP: https://bit.ly/sag16years

Please also consider donating through the link in our bio. If donating isn’t possible, sharing this post helps raise awareness and brings our work to new people.

Because bringing innocent people home is more than kinda chic. It’s essential.

08/21/2026

Next month will mark 20 years since our founder, Jeffrey Deskovic, regained his freedom after spending 16 years wrongfully imprisoned. Today, we celebrate another meaningful part of the life he has built since then: finding love and partnership with his fiancée, Samantha. ❤️

Wrongful conviction steals far more than time. It takes away everyday milestones, relationships, opportunities, and the freedom to imagine a future. Exoneration may open the prison doors, but healing and rebuilding continue long afterward.

Jeffrey and Samantha’s love is a beautiful reminder that exonerees are not defined solely by the injustice they endured. They deserve the same opportunities to experience connection, support, stability, joy, and a future of their own choosing.

At The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, we fight to free innocent people, prevent future wrongful convictions, and help create a world in which freedom means more than release—it means having the opportunity to truly live again.