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After Innocence

Released Oct 21, 2005 1h 35m Documentary List
92% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Following the stories of seven exonerated prisoners, "After Innocence" documents how DNA evidence led to the release of these wrongfully imprisoned, innocent men. Free after years -- and in some cases decades -- behind bars and on death row, these men struggle to transition back into society with inadequate support from the judicial system that wronged them. "After Innocence" brings to light flaws in the criminal justice system and the need for reform.
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After Innocence

After Innocence

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Critics Consensus

This understated yet emotionally devastating documentary lets the stories of its subjects speak for themselves.

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Critics Reviews

View All (49) Critics Reviews
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Sanders shows that America's criminal justice system may be more criminal than just. Jun 28, 2022 Full Review Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle After Innocence is a crusading documentary driven by DNA testing that's brought freedom for men who served years in prison for crimes they didn't commit. Rated: 3/4 Mar 24, 2006 Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Eye-opening. Rated: B Mar 16, 2006 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins The subject matter and content is so moving and thought-provoking that it hardly matters if the movie is a technical achievement. Rated: 8/10 Sep 25, 2020 Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media Powerful docu on post-prison lives of falsely accused. Rated: 4/5 Jan 17, 2017 Full Review Maria Garcia Film Journal International An advertorial rather than a solid piece of investigative journalism. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Frances H Documentary that is so inspirational! Victims who were cleared by DNA, even more. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/10/15 Full Review Audience Member this is a really important movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I felt sorry for Wilton, but at least he had his family. The guy I felt sorry for was the one whose father was a cop and didn't visit once for the 12 years his son was wrongfully in prison. "I put people in jail, I don't visit them." Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This doc is bananas! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member "Freedom is just the Beginning" Alfred Hitchcock was once asked in an interview what his biggest fear was. He responded by saying that it was being falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit. After watching After Innocence, I can say be falsely accused and convicted of a crime would be one of the most terrifying things that could happen to a person. After a law class I took last year; I began to be totally opposed to the death penalty. Now, After Innocence just reaffirms my belief that the death penalty should not be used. There's just too much risk in executing an innocent man or woman. If you only execute one innocent man, I'd say the system failed. And you know that more then one innocent person has been put to death. It's a scary thought; being on death row or even just in prison for a crime that you didn't commit. After Innocence dives into some of the people who's lives were affected by being wrongly convicted of a crime. After serving many years in prison, each person who is shown on this documentary had their convictions overturned because of DNA evidence that proves they didn't commit the crime. It shows how their lives never get back to normal. Each person has their own unique prison aftermath. It's hard to get work, a girlfriend and they were never compensated for their time. They continue fighting for compensation and for others that were also wrongly convicted. It's just a really sad and terrifying documentary to watch. Seeing a person who had to waste 22 years of their life inside a prison and come out without compensation is tragic. This along with Witch Hunt, which touches on the same subject, will really change your frame of mind about the whole legal system. While this obviously isn't a fun movie to watch; it is an important one and also a very well-made documentary. More people need to watch After Innocence. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Coming off the cusp of the Casey Anthony trial, this film is now an incredibly important documentary about the flaws in our judicial system. It reminds us that our legal model should be one based on a presumption of innocence, not guilt. This is one eye-opening and powerful film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following the stories of seven exonerated prisoners, "After Innocence" documents how DNA evidence led to the release of these wrongfully imprisoned, innocent men. Free after years -- and in some cases decades -- behind bars and on death row, these men struggle to transition back into society with inadequate support from the judicial system that wronged them. "After Innocence" brings to light flaws in the criminal justice system and the need for reform.
Director
Jessica Sanders
Producer
Jessica Sanders, Marc H. Simon
Screenwriter
Jessica Sanders, Marc H. Simon
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
American Film Foundation
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$114.1K
Runtime
1h 35m
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