Curious City

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago

Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

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
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