Criminal law continues to be one thing I love to read about. For instance, this story about William Heirens, written in 1989, blows the mind: so, so many injustices allowed to stand, all because "it's really the publicity surrounding the case..." Sadly, the Lipstick killer died in prison at the age of 83 as possibly the world's longest serving prisoner.
During his time in prison, Heirens became the first Illinois prisoner to earn a college degree behind bars (he had been attending the soul-crushing University of Chicago prior to his 'conviction'), earned a certificate in electronics and then taught TV repair to other inmates, managed 350 inmates at a prison garment factor, organized classes for inmates, set up an educational program and advised prisoners on education and law, taught art to inmates after becoming a watercolor artist and calligrapher, and founded a self-help group in prison. He received glowing reviews from all who came into contact with him - despite this, he was denied parole over 30 times.
It really says something when even the sensationalist trutv.com - which has retold stories of serial killers that in actuality have little to no evidence in a highly sensationalized manner(toy box killer) - retells the conviction and trial in a fashion to demonstrate the utter unfairness and pre-determined outcome of the case.
UPDATE
Also, forgot to note - but he finished serving time for his sentences in 1983: retributive justice, and one of the reasons the post the other day about the society of friends/rehabilitation would be a better standard (here, using the counterfactual that Heirens were actually guilty). sad yall.
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