Cleared: Recent Episodes
Steve Becker & Beth White
The law is embedded in our society, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Join Steve Becker, retired State District Court Judge, and his daughter Beth White, A Department of Corrections parole officer, as they explore what went wrong in the criminal justice system.
Works Cited
“Flawed Justice: The Kimberly Long Story Podcast on Apple Podcasts.” Apple Podcasts, 1 Oct. 2018,
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Damien, Christopher. “Murder Charge against Corona Woman Dismissed, DA Says It Can’t Prove Her
Guilt in New Trial.” The Desert Sun, 22 Apr. 2021,
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“Kimberly Long - National Registry of Exonerations.” Umich.edu, 2019,
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“Kimberly Long | Kim Long.” California Innocence Project, californiainnocenceproject.org/read-their-
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“‘This Is the Best Christmas Present’: Victory for Kimberly Long after Calif. Supreme Court Upholds
Reversal of Murder Conviction - CBS Los Angeles.” Www.cbsnews.com, 30 Nov. 2020,
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2023.
Works Cited
“Dateline: Michelle O’Keefe’s Father Says Ray Jennings ‘Still Guilty.’” 2paragraphs.com, 10 Nov. 2016,
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Accessed 21 June 2023.
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“Man Accused of Murdering College Student Is Freed after 11 Years: How the Case against Him
Unraveled.” Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2016, www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-20160624-
jennings-release-snap-story.html. Accessed 21 June 2023.
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Mitra, Shraman. “Where Are Michelle O’Keefe’s Parents Now?” The Cinemaholic, 21 Mar. 2023,
thecinemaholic.com/where-are-michelle-okeefes-parents-now/. Accessed 21 June 2023.
Morrison, Keith. The Girl in the Blue Mustang. Podcast, 1-6, NBC Dateline, 14 Mar. 2023,
www.nbcnews.com/bluemustang. Accessed 21 June 2023.
Works Cited
Denzel, Stephanie. “Virginia LeFever - National Registry of Exonerations.” Www.law.umich.edu, 29 Mar.
2022, www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3378&lang=en.
Accessed 4 Apr. 2023.
“LeFever v. Ferguson, Case No. 2:11-Cv-935 | Casetext Search + Citator.” Casetext.com, 11 July 2013,
casetext.com/case/lefever-v-ferguson-1. Accessed 4 Apr. 2023.
Michaels, Samantha. “After Prison, the Exonerated Face a Different Kind of Hell.” Mother Jones,
www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/wrongfully-convicted-exonerees-ptsd-mental-health/.
Zerwick, Phoebe. “Darryl Hunt | beyond Innocence.” The Assembly NC, 14 Feb. 2023,
www.theassemblync.com/politics/criminal-justice/beyond-innocence-darryl-hunt/. Accessed 4
Apr. 2023.
Works Cited
The Trials of Darryl Hunt. Directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg, Film, 2007.
Zerwick, Phoebe. “Darryl Hunt | beyond Innocence.” The Assembly NC, 14 Feb. 2023,
www.theassemblync.com/politics/criminal-justice/beyond-innocence-darryl-hunt/. Accessed 4
Apr. 2023.
Works Cited
Dignity, Walle Amusa | Campaign for Human. “Lamar Johnson Is Free!” St. Louis American, 16 Feb.
2023, www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/lamar-johnson-is-
free/article_6bb0bfcc-ae73-11ed-afc6-c35fbdba3c4c.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
“Help Lamar Johnson after Wrongful Conviction, Organized by Midwest Innocence Project.”
Gofundme.com, www.gofundme.com/f/help-lamar-johnson-after-wrongful-conviction/donations.
Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
“Lamar Johnson – MIP.” Themip.org, themip.org/clients/lamar-johnson/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
Runnels, Lindsay, et al. 14 Feb. 2023, themip.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023.02.14-Johnson-
Press-Release.pdf. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
Salter •, Jim. “Lamar Johnson Fought to Prove His Innocence. After 28 Years in Prison, He’s Now Free.”
NBC New York, 17 Feb. 2023, www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/lamar-johnson-
fought-to-prove-his-innocence-for-28-years-now-hes-free/4110753/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
Yang, John, and Frank Carlson. “Two People Confessed to a Murder Lamar Johnson Is in Prison For.
Politics May Keep Him In.” PBS NewsHour, 15 June 2021, www.pbs.org/newshour/show/two-
people-confessed-to-a-murder-lamar-johnson-says-he-didnt-commit-hes-still-in-prison. Accessed
28 Feb. 2023.
Works Cited
“Faye Jacobs – MIP.” Themip.org, themip.org/clients/faye-jacobs/. Accessed 10 Aug. 2022.
Nickels, Kilee. “Life without Parole - While Innocent | Laquanda “Faye” Jacobs.” Www.youtube.com, 21
May 2021, youtu.be/9qcHGKeMk3o. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
Sederstrom, Jill. “Woman Fights to Clear Her Name after Spending 26 Years in Prison for Murder She
Says She Didn’t Commit.” Oxygen Official Site, 4 Feb. 2022, www.oxygen.com/crime-
news/laquanda-faye-jacobs-fights-to-clear-her-name. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
“Sentenced 26 Years for a Murder She Says She Didn’t Commit.” Www.youtube.com, 6 Feb. 2020,
youtu.be/3kOEm7QWzc4. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
Truesdell, Jeff. “Freed but Not Free: Convicted as a Teen, Woman Who Served 26 Years for Murder
Fights to Clear Her Name.” Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2022, people.com/crime/arkansas-woman-
convicted-of-murder-as-teen-fights-to-clear-name/. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
Works Cited
“Federal Lawsuit Filed against Law Enforcement in Mississippi False Confession Case.” Innocence
Project, 18 Jan. 2013, innocenceproject.org/federal-lawsuit-filed-against-law-enforcement-in-
mississippi-false-confession-case/. Accessed 19 July 2022.
“Forrest County Man Faces New Rape and Murder Charges.” Https://Www.wdam.com, 6 Feb. 2012,
www.wdam.com/story/16688871/forrest-county-man-faces-new-rape-and-murder-charges/.
Accessed 19 July 2022.
“Innocence Project: The Cases — Phillip Bivens.” Innocence Project, innocenceproject.org/cases/phillip-
bivens/. Accessed 19 July 2022.
“INNOCENCE: DNA Test Clears Three Wrongfully Convicted Inmates Who Might Have Been
Executed.” Death Penalty Information Center, 23 Sept. 2010,
deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/innocence-dna-test-clears-three-wrongfully-convicted-inmates-who-
might-have-been-executed.
“Lawyers: $16.5M Settlement for Exonerated Men.” The Dispatch, 3 Aug. 2016,
cdispatch.com/news/2016-08-03/lawyers-16-5m-settlement-for-exonerated-men/. Accessed 19
July 2022.
“Man Dies Weeks after Being Cleared in 1979 Killing.” The Dispatch, 9 Nov. 2010,
cdispatch.com/news/2010-11-09/man-dies-weeks-after-being-cleared-in-1979-killing/. Accessed
19 July 2022.
Mitchell, Jerry. ““Making a Murderer” Shows False Confessions Happen.” The Clarion-Ledger, 6 Jan.
2016, www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/journeytojustice/2016/01/06/making-a-murderer-
netflix-false-confessions/78360932/. Accessed 19 July 2022.
“Phillip Bivens - National Registry of Exonerations.” Www.law.umich.edu, 23 Nov. 2016,
www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3029.
“Phillip Bivens | Mississippi Innocence Project.” Innocenceproject.olemiss.edu,
innocenceproject.olemiss.edu/case/phillip-bivens/. Accessed 19 July 2022.
ROBERTSON, CAMPBELL. “30 Years Later, Freedom in a Case with Tragedy for All Involved.”
Lexington Dispatch, 17 Sept. 2010, www.the-dispatch.com/story/news/2010/09/17/30-years-later-
freedom-in/30391758007/. Accessed 19 July 2022.
Robertson, James. “Work in Progrss.” 27 Mar. 2011.
Roth, Tanya. “DNA Evidence Clears 2 Men after 30 Years.” FindLaw, 20 Sept. 2010,
www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/dna-evidence-clears-2-men-after-30-years/.
Accessed 19 July 2022.
The Travelers Indemnity Company; the Travelers Indemnity Company of America; United States Fidelity
and Guaranty Company, St. Paul Fire; Marine Insurance Company v. Ethel Mitchell, Executrix of
the Estate of Phillip Bivens; the Estate of Larry Ruffin; the Estate of Bobby Ray Dixon; Laturas
Smith; Carrie Strong. 5AD.
Works Cited
“Case File.” Picking Cotton | a Memoir by Jennifer Thompson & Ronald Cotton with Erin
Torneo, www.pickingcottonbook.com/case-file.
O’Neil, Helen. “The Perfect Witness.” Death Penalty Information Center, 2001,
deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/the-perfect-witness.
Poptech. “Thompon & Cotton Forgive.” YouTube, 19 Jan. 2011,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB7MrfJ7X_c. Accessed 20 Nov. 2020.
“Ronald Cotton Celebrates 24th Exoneration Anniversary.” Innocence Project,
innocenceproject.org/cases/ronald-cotton/.
Thompson-Cannino, Jennifer, et al. Picking Cotton : Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption.
New York, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010.
Works Cited
Chin, Anthony. “The Story of Albert M. Wilson.” Medium, 7 June 2021, anthony-chin.medium.com/the-story-of-albert-m-wilson-56ea33d38548. Accessed 7 June 2022.
Clark, Mackenzie. “Albert Wilson Files Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit 4 Months after Rape Case Is Dismissed.” The Lawrence Times, 4AD, lawrencekstimes.com/2022/04/20/albert-wilson-lawsuit/. Accessed 7 June 2022.
---. “Prosecutors Won’t Appeal Judge’s Decision in Albert Wilson Case + FAQs.” The Lawrence Times, Winter 3AD, lawrencekstimes.com/2021/03/24/wilson-case-faqs/. Accessed 7 June 2022.
Kardashian, Kim. “Https://Twitter.com/Kimkardashian/Status/1269266608469315585.” Twitter, June 6AD, twitter.com/kimkardashian/status/1269266608469315585. Accessed 7 June 2022.
Otterbourg, Ken. “Albert Wilson - National Registry of Exonerations.” Umich.edu, 2019, www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6181.
Works Cited
Blake, Scott. “Geronimo Pratt & Rice/Poindexter Documentary.” YouTube, 4 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o6zqluRonY.
Denzel, Stephanie. “Elmer Pratt - National Registry of Exonerations.” Umich.edu, 2019, www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3549&msclkid=b0f2a886b2f311eca49a211e85ea9229. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
“Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt – Centurion.” Centurion, centurion.org/cases/elmer-geronimo-pratt/?msclkid=5f6ea39cb4f811eca54698d41f5d3382. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
“Elmer Geronimo Pratt Documentary by FOX 11/KTTV.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrcDBQsd2c. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
Facebook, et al. “COLUMN ONE : Past Haunts Ex-Panther in New Life : Julius Butler’s Testimony Helped Convict Geronimo Pratt of Murder. Now, the First A.M.E. Church Official’s Prominence Upsets Some Who Say Butler Was an FBI Informant--a Claim He Denies.” Los Angeles Times, 24 May 1994, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-24-mn-61623-story.html?msclkid=a7ea8604b51811eca5bcd8a6a4f712b7. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
Goldman, Adam. “Band of Activists Who Eluded FBI for Years Come Forward.” Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2014, www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/band-of-activists-who-burglarized-fbi-office-in-1971-come-forward/2014/01/07/898d9e0c-77b4-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html.
Henry, Erica. “Former Black Panther Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt Dies, Attorney Says.” Www.cnn.com, 3 June 2011, www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/03/california.pratt.death/index.html?hpt=hp_t2. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
Johnson, John. “Geronimo Pratt.” Change-Links, 2 July 2011, change-links.org/geronimo-pratt/#:~:text=The%20case%20of%20Geronimo%20Pratt%2C%20imprisoned%20for%20twenty-seven. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
“Remembering Geronimo Pratt: 10 Things You Need to Know.” Moguldom, 23 Nov. 2019, moguldom.com/237791/remembering-geronimo-pratt-10-things-you-need-to-know/?msclkid=9131670cb51711ecacbce78a6fdcf1ac. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
Whitcomb, Dan. “Framed Black Panther Spent 27 Years in Jail.” Www.hartford-Hwp.com, 23 Oct. 2000, www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/483.html. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.
Rosa Jimenez Works Cited Fazio, Marie. “‘Likely Innocent’: Judge Frees Woman Jailed 15 Years in Child’s Death.” The New YorkTimes, 29 Jan. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/us/rosa-jimenez-released.html?msclkid=3c5c8927a91411eca29d2a4e703f5bf0. Accessed 21 Mar. 2022.Hall 17, Michael. “After Eighteen Years behind Bars for a Crime She Didn’t Commit, Rosa Jimenez Is Finally Free.” Texas Monthly, 30 Jan. 2021, www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/after-eighteen-years-prison-for-crime-she-did-not-commit-rosa-jimenez-finally-free/? msclkid=3c5ddb74a91411eca16901e6742645a2. Accessed 21...
Works Cited CNN, Amanda Jackson. “A Wrongfully Convicted Man Who Spent 23 Years in Prison Will Receive $1.5 Million from the State of Kansas.” CNN, 25 Feb. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/us/lamonte-mcintyre-mistaken-conviction-award-trnd/index.html. Gannon, Rebecca. “Lamonte McIntyre Speaks on ‘Bittersweet’ Freedom after 23 Years in Prison.” FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports, 15 Oct. 2017, fox4kc.com/news/lamonte-mcintyre-speaks-on-bittersweet-freedom-after-23-years-in-prison/....
An Interview with Jim McCloskey, the author of “When Truth Is All You Have” https://www.amazon.com/When-Truth-All-You-Have/dp/0385545037 https://centurion.org/
An Interview with Jim McCloskey, the author of “When Truth Is All You Have” https://www.amazon.com/When-Truth-All-You-Have/dp/0385545037 https://centurion.org/
Works Cited “A ‘Perfect Storm’ of Injustice—Death-Row Prisoner Christopher Williams Exonerated in Philadelphia Murder Case.” Death Penalty Information Center, 24 Jan. 2020, deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/a-perfect-storm-of-injustice-death-row-prisoner-christopher-williams-exonerated-in-philadelphia-murder-case. Accessed 18 Jan. 2022. Capital-Star, Special to the, et al. “Exonerated Philly Death Row Inmate Files Civil Suit against Cops, Prosecutor Who Sent Him to Prison.” Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 2 Dec. 2021, www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/exonerated-philly-death-row-inmate-files-civil-suit-against-cops-prosecutor-who-sent-him-to-prison/....
Groveland Four Works Cited CNN, Sara Weisfeldt. “4 Black Men Exonerated More than 70 Years after Being Wrongly Accused of Raping a White Teen Girl.” CNN, 23 Nov. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/11/22/us/groveland-four-exonerated-florida/index.html. Hudak, Stephen. “Groveland Four Accuser Norma Padgett Speaks Publicly for the First Time since 1952.” Orlandosentinel.com, 11 Jan. 2019, www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-ne-groveland-four-norma-padgett-testimony-20190111-story.html. Accessed 4 Jan. 2022. Reilly,...
Works Cited Chandler, Kurt. “Blood Simple: Steven Avery.” Milwaukee Magazine, 14 Dec. 2018, www.milwaukeemag.com/blood-simple/. “Innocence Project: The Cases — Steven Avery.” Innocence Project, innocenceproject.org/cases/steven-avery/. Laporte, Gerald. “Wrongful Convictions and DNA Exonerations: Understanding the Role of Forensic Science.” National Institute of Justice, 7 Sept. 2017, nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/wrongful-convictions-and-dna-exonerations-understanding-role-forensic-science#steven-avery. Accessed 21 Dec. 2021. Possley, Maurice. “Steven Avery – National...
Steve shares about wrongful convictions in the news and Beth shares the story of Curtis McCarty Works Cited Allen, John. “Former Death Row Inmate Drawn to Faith by Catholic Activism.” National Catholic Reporter, 27 Nov. 2012, www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/former-death-row-inmate-drawn-faith-catholic-activism. Accessed 7 Dec. 2021. Branstetter, Ziva. “‘Cowboy’ Bob Macy Called #2 ‘Deadliest’ Prosecutor.” The Frontier, 3 July 2016,www.readfrontier.org/stories/cowboy-bob-macy-called-2-deadliest-prosecutor/....
Steve shares briefly about Amanda Knox, and Beth shares the story of Eddie James Lowery Works Cited “Anatomy of False Confessions, Redux | Prison Legal News.” Www.prisonlegalnews.org, 15 Dec. 2011, www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2011/dec/15/anatomy-of-false-confessions-redux/. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021. “Eddie Lowery – National Registry of Exonerations.” Www.law.umich.edu, www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3394. Accessed 16 Nov. 2021. Hittle, Shaun. “Wrongfully Convicted: He Spent 10...
October 2nd is Wrongful Conviction Day! Join Steve and Beth as they Celebrate the nearly3000 exonerations as they tell the story of the first exoneration brought about by DNA evidence.
Jimmie Gardner was a talented up and coming baseball player until he was convicted of a crime he did not commit. 27 years later he was released. What went wrong in the criminal justice system that took 27 years from Jimmie Gardner?
The law is embedded in our society, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Join Steve Becker, retired State District Court Judge, and his daughter Beth White, A Department of Corrections parole officer, as they explore what went wrong in the criminal justice system.