PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
AND EDUCATION
We're in a powerful moment. More than ever before, ordinary members of the American public are actively following and engaged in stories about the criminal justice system, including stories about surviving wrongful convictions and other extreme miscarriages of justice. People are inspired by what they learn – and ready to support change. If attention is the new currency, then advocates for reform may have more resources than we realize.
AJFA attorneys have been deeply involved in three of the most high-profile cases in the country – all of which exemplify the power of public attention. Arkansas’ notorious West Memphis Three case, for instance, gained major notoriety as a potential wrongful conviction after filmmakers documented the Three’s stories in HBO’s 1996 Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson later produced a second award-winning documentary along with director Amy Berg, called West of Memphis, that reinvestigated the case and helped bring about the release of all three wrongfully convicted defendants. Similarly, the Serial podcast’s deep dive into the 1999 conviction of Maryland teenager Adnan Syed – downloaded more than 300 million times – yielded a massive, crowdsourced reinvestigation into his case that resulted in the discovery of new evidence and, years later, his freedom. And finally, Wisconsin teenager Brendan Dassey’s wrongful conviction was featured in the Netflix docuseries Making a Murderer – yielding a global groundswell of support for Brendan’s freedom and for changes in laws regarding the ways in which police question children. AJFA represents Brendan Dassey, and our advisory board includes Erica Suter, who represents Adnan Syed, and Lorri Davis, spouse of West Memphis Three death row survivor Damien Echols.
The proof is positive: Strategic communications can resonate deeply, whether stories are placed in local newspapers or promoted by social media influencers. The power of bringing light to a system that’s often shrouded in darkness is real – and it can make effective change a reality, too.
Seeing the film, you realize something has gone wrong….I was struck by the fact that these people didn't commit these crimes. They don't have the right people in prison.
Lorri Davis, spouse of Damien Echols, in West of Memphis
AJFA works to provide lawyer-informed, ethical communications strategies for cases and issues alike.
Providing strategic public advocacy for cases and issues in both traditional and digital media – all guided by lawyers and the best interests of each case.
Convening great thinkers and game-changers to highlight new ideas and partnerships for achieving reform.
Supporting cultural and creative offerings, from theater to the visual arts, in order to engage audiences deeply and immersively in storytelling about the criminal justice system.