
Curious City
WBEZ Chicago
Radio: WBEZ 91.5 FM
Categories: Arts
Listen to the last episode:
What does it take to get a wrongful conviction overturned?
Quite a lot, according to investigative reporter Alison Flowers, who says proving innocence is much more difficult than proving guilt. She has investigated the cases of many wrongfully convicted individuals, including that of Chicagoan Robert Johnson.
In our last episode, Invisible Institute reporter Erisa Apantaku explained how Johnson has spent nearly 30 years in prison for a murder almost everyone knows he did not commit.
What’s clear is that a lot must go right to overturn a wrongful conviction (and even more so before the exonerated can try to earn compensation from the state). Flowers explains what a wrongfully convicted person needs — “the three-legged stool of wrongful convictions” — an advocate on the outside, an attorney in your corner and media attention.
Previous episodes
-
602 - There’s a delicate alchemy to overturning a wrongful conviction Thu, 13 Feb 2025
-
601 - Why does it take so long to free an innocent person from prison? Wed, 12 Feb 2025
-
600 - How Filipino food entrepreneurs’ “sense of community” help them thrive Thu, 06 Feb 2025
-
599 - Is there a Filipino neighborhood in Chicago? Wed, 05 Feb 2025
-
598 - Drama, scandal or scores: What takes a sports team down? Thu, 30 Jan 2025
-
597 - What happens when your team keeps losing? Wed, 29 Jan 2025
-
596 - What does it take to put together a traffic report? Wed, 22 Jan 2025
-
595 - Why telling “the proper stories” is vital to understanding the Piasa Thu, 16 Jan 2025
-
594 - Why is there a fire-breathing dragon in Illinois? Wed, 15 Jan 2025
-
593 - Chicago history is full of consequential years Thu, 09 Jan 2025
-
592 - What was Chicago’s most consequential year? It may not be what you think. Wed, 08 Jan 2025
-
591 - Winter Weather Tips: From Extra Gloves To Hot Potatoes Wed, 01 Jan 2025
-
590 - Who Are The Folks At The Christmas Tree Lot? Wed, 25 Dec 2024
-
589 - Who’s Behind The CTA Holiday Train? Santa And The Elves! Wed, 18 Dec 2024
-
588 - In Chicago, forget the cocktail; a beer and a shot will do Thu, 12 Dec 2024
-
587 - Where did the Tom & Jerry cocktail come from? Wed, 11 Dec 2024
-
586 - Beer, architecture and Lincoln Square: The lasting impact of German culture in Chicago Thu, 05 Dec 2024
-
585 - Christkindlmarket’s Forgotten Year Wed, 04 Dec 2024
-
584 - Why is there an aviary at O'Hare Airport? Thu, 28 Nov 2024
-
583 - What happens to birds stuck inside the airport? Wed, 27 Nov 2024
-
582 - ‘Indigenous Chicago’ project shows the city has always been a Native place Thu, 21 Nov 2024
-
581 - Without Native Americans, Would We Have Chicago As We Know It? Wed, 20 Nov 2024
-
580 - Bodegas, ‘The Bear’ and why family business is the ‘backbone of the economy’ Thu, 14 Nov 2024
-
579 - What’s The Oldest Family Business in Chicago? Wed, 13 Nov 2024
-
578 - ‘So many connections:’ Chicago indicator species are trying to tell us something Thu, 07 Nov 2024
-
577 - “It’s Not Easy Being Green”: The Decline Of Frogs In Chicago Wed, 06 Nov 2024
-
576 - “Spooky and salacious:” Do we need to rethink prison tourism? Thu, 31 Oct 2024
-
575 - Who Or What Haunts The Old Joliet Prison? Wed, 30 Oct 2024
-
574 - What Does "Chicagoland" Mean, And Where Did It Come From? Thu, 24 Oct 2024
-
573 - This Episode Is Garbage Thu, 17 Oct 2024
-
572 - The Legacy Of Margaret Burroughs Thu, 03 Oct 2024
-
571 - Cardinal Club Was Polish Rock 'N' Roll Heaven In Chicago Thu, 26 Sep 2024
-
570 - What Was Schwinn's Legacy In Chicago? Thu, 19 Sep 2024
-
569 - Not Their First "Roadeo" Thu, 12 Sep 2024
-
568 - The Case Of The Chicago Mothman Thu, 05 Sep 2024
-
567 - How Does Sound Travel In The City? Thu, 29 Aug 2024
-
566 - Chicago Once Had An “Ugly Law” Thu, 22 Aug 2024
-
565 - "Radium Girls" Had A Tragic Glow Thu, 15 Aug 2024
-
564 - How Did Malört Become Chicago's Drink? Thu, 08 Aug 2024
-
563 - What Lessons Were Learned From The '68 DNC In Chicago? Thu, 01 Aug 2024
-
562 - Did Soccer Have A Golden Age In Chicago? Thu, 25 Jul 2024
-
561 - What's Up With All The Fake Lakes? Thu, 18 Jul 2024
-
560 - Why Are There So Many Irish Pubs In Chicago? Thu, 11 Jul 2024
-
559 - Why Is The Only North American Baháʼí Temple In Wilmette? Thu, 27 Jun 2024
-
558 - Reflecting On More Than 10 Years Of Curious City Thu, 20 Jun 2024
-
557 - What’s The Oldest Book In Circulation At The Chicago Public Library? Thu, 13 Jun 2024
-
556 - The Underground Railroad Existed Throughout Illinois, Including In Chicago Thu, 06 Jun 2024
-
555 - Did Dinosaurs Ever Live In Chicago? Thu, 30 May 2024
-
554 - What Happened To Chicago’s Native American Neighborhood? Thu, 23 May 2024
-
553 - Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: History, Hauntings, and Preservation Thu, 16 May 2024