In this episode of Just Justice, host Jessica Henry sits down with Abe Bonowitz, co-founder and executive director of Death Penalty Action and one of the most persistent voices in the movement to end capital punishment in the United States. Abe shares how he went from a young man who once said he’d “pull the switch” himself to a lifelong abolitionist, and what decades of work on the front lines have taught him about justice, accountability, and the value of every human life. They discuss the politics behind the recent uptick in executions, why support for the death penalty is at historic lows even as some states ramp up killing, and the cost to victims’ families of capital punishment. Ultimately, Abe offers a powerful vision for justice in a world without capital punishment. 

To learn more about Death Penalty Action and ways to support their work, go to https://deathpenaltyaction.org/.

To learn more about Jessica Henry got to https://jessicahenryjustice.com/ 

Audio mixed by Kaz Araki

Jennifer Soble, founder and Executive Director of the Illinois Prison Project, is re-imagining justice around a simple but radical belief: people can change. In this episode of Just Justice, Jennifer and host Jessica Henry explore how hope becomes action, and how that hope has brought hundreds of people home. Through compelling stories of freedom and reform, we hear how the Illinois Prison Project fights for second chances through parole, compassionate release, re-sentencing, and clemency. It’s a moving conversation about redemption and legal reform, and the bold passion for justice that makes both possible. Join us. 

To learn more about Jennifer Soble and the work of IPP: 

Visit their website: illinoisprisonproject.org or find them on social media: @illinoisprisonproject.

To learn more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.

David Carrillo was serving a life without parole sentence when he realized he needed to radically change his thinking, and the way he was living behind bars. From a prison cell, he began a journey of education, reflection, and transformation that led him to become the first incarcerated college professor in the country. In this inspiring episode, we talk about what it means to imagine a life of purpose in a place built for punishment, how education became David’s pathway to hope, and what his story reveals about the power of redemption and the human capacity for change.

To learn more about David's work: https://www.davidrcarrilloconsulting.com/.

Check out his memoir, Kiko: From Life Without Parole to Life with Purpose: https://a.co/d/3Qth27p

For more about Jessica Henry, go to jessicahenryjustice.com.

At just 17, Jeffrey Deskovic was coerced into a false confession and wrongly convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, despite DNA evidence that proved his innocence. After 16 years behind bars, he was finally exonerated. Now an attorney and founder of the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation, Jeff joins Just Justice to share his powerful story and his mission to free the wrongfully convicted. It’s a powerful conversation about resilience, truth, and the urgent need for justice reform to protect the innocent.   

Learn more about Jeffrey Deskovic at: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.deskovic/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydeskovic/ 

Learn more about the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation (with a link to donate!): https://www.deskovicfoundation.org/ 

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/deskovicfoundation/ 

Watch the short documentary "Conviction": https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B35H3CR3/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Learn more about Jessica Henry at jessicahenryjustice.com.

Law professor Aliza Kaplan joins Just Justice to share the human side of “second-chance lawyering." Aliza details the chllanging legal work that happens after a conviction, where post-conviction advocacy, parole, clemency, and re-sentencing can truly change lives. Aliza traces her journey from co-founding the New England Innocence Project to helping reshape criminal justice policy in Oregon, and shares stories of people who came home ready to thrive. If you’re curious about reforms that actually work, and the people behind them, join us for a conversation that is hopeful and inspiring.  

On this episode of Just Justice, Amanda Carrasco, author of the new memoir Becoming the Brave One, shares how her experiences with sexual abuse and homicide shaped her path toward healing, and how restorative justice became a powerful framework for accountability, resilience, and hope. This conversation highlights the strength it takes to tell your story and the possibilities of justice rooted in repair rather than prison.

To learn more about Amanda Carrasco and to order her new memoir, Becoming the Brave One, go to: https://amandacarrasco.com/.

To learn more about Jessica Henry and the Just Justice podcast, visit jessicahenryjustice.com.