The 'Jailhouse Lawyer' Who Freed Innocent People — Including Himself

This Fresh Air episode features an interview with Calvin Duncan, who spent 28.5 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit and became a jailhouse lawyer. Duncan discusses his experiences in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, where he utilized the prison's extensive law library to help other inmates with their cases and eventually worked towards his own exoneration. He details the challenges he faced in accessing legal resources, the biased legal system, and the obstacles in reopening cases, including the non-unanimous jury law in Louisiana. After his release and subsequent exoneration, Duncan earned a law degree and founded the Light of Justice program to aid incarcerated individuals, reflecting on his journey and his commitment to helping others navigate the complexities of the legal system. The episode also includes a book review segment by Maureen Corrigan, who recommends two summer nonfiction books.