Bending the arc : my journey from prison to politics

Title:

Author:

Summary:

"Just weeks after graduating from the Dean's List from Tennessee State University, Keeda Haynes became an inmate at Alderson Federal Prison Camp, all for a crime she didn't commit. This was never meant to be her story. Her childhood was spent in church, band practice, and Girl Scouts meetings, and when she enrolled at TSU, the path ahead had seemed bright. Then one day her boyfriend had asked for a simple favor, to sign to receive some FedEx packages--packages she did not know were filled with marijuana. Suddenly she found herself in court and sentenced to seven years in prison--the same sentence she would have been handed if she had dealt the drugs herself. The experience of this injustice led her to question the foundations of her faith, and to confront a criminal justice system filled with race and class inequities--but instead of succumbing to despair and becoming yet another victim of our failed national "War on Drugs," she decided to dedicate her life toward making our justice system truly just. Even after she was released, she knew there was still so much freedom left to fight for. Haynes attended law school at night and became a public defender. She went on to become a criminal justice reform advocate supporting formerly incarcerated women, and in 2020 she became a candidate hoping to become the first Black woman to represent Tennessee in Congress. When she fights against mandatory minimum sentencing laws, advocates for successful transitions for those who have served their time, and seeks alternative sentencing for parents to help keep families together, she draws from her own personal experiences with how our unequal justice system treats the most vulnerable. Through her unique perspective and passionate activism, she now tells her story to help us reshape our communities into a true second chance culture. What she's learned firsthand--slowly, painfully--is that our future does not have to be defined by our past. And she knows that we're all ready for the long fight towards justice." -- Provided by publisher.

Edition:

First Edition.

Physical Description:

xii, 273 pages ; 25 cm

Genre:

Autobiographies.

Personal Subject:

Haynes, Keeda J.

Subject Term:

Women ex-convicts -- Biography.

African American women -- Biography

Public defenders -- Biography.

African American women lawyers -- Biography.

Criminal justice, Administration of.

Discrimination in criminal justice administration.

Publisher:

Seal Press,

Publication Date:

2021

ISBN:

9781541646308

Publication Information:

New York : Seal Press, 2021.

Call Number:

923 HAYNES

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003558072	Adult Nonfiction	923 HAYNES	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

A searing exposé of the profound failures in our justice system, told by a woman who has journeyed from wrongfully accused prisoner to acclaimed public defender

Keeda Haynes was a Girl Scout and a churchgoer, but after college graduation, she was imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. Her boyfriend had asked her to sign for some packages--packages she did not know were filled with marijuana. As a young Black woman falsely accused, prosecuted, and ultimately imprisoned, Haynes suffered the abuses of our racist and sexist justice system. But rather than give in to despair, she decided to fight for change. After her release, she attended law school at night, became a public defender, and ultimately staged a highly publicized campaign for Congress. At every turn of her unlikely story, she gives unique insights into the inequities built into our institutions. In the end, despite the injustice she endured, she emerges convinced that ours can become a true second-chance culture.

Author Notes

Keeda J. Haynes is a criminal justice reform advocate and a former Nashville public defender who works to bring to light the inequities in the criminal justice system. She currently serves as the Voting Rights Campaign Strategist with The Sentencing Project, and formerly served as the Legal Advisor to the non-profit organization Free Hearts. In 2020, she campaigned with hopes to become the first Black congresswoman to represent Tennessee. She lectures nationwide on her compelling story and cutting-edge issues in the criminal justice system. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

"Achieving real justice requires applying constant pressure," writes Haynes (campaign strategist, the Sentencing Project) in her exceptionally informative memoir. At 19, Haynes was arrested after signing for packages that, unbeknownst to her, contained marijuana. Faced with mandatory minimum sentencing laws and an unforgiving judge, Haynes was sentenced to federal prison. While incarcerated, she worked toward her dream of a career in law, assisted her lawyer with the appeal of her case, and helped other incarcerated people navigate legal hurdles. After her release, she graduated from law school and became a public defender, which she says was motivated by her desire to give people impacted by the penal system a better experience than her own. Wanting to make a greater impact at the policy level, Haynes became legal counsel for a non-profit and later ran a grassroots campaign for Congress. In this memoir, she excels at drawing clear comparisons between her own experiences and the widespread inequities of criminal law, especially for Black and brown people. VERDICT Readers interested in law and systemic racism will come away with greater insight from this highly recommended book. Haynes's perseverance, compassion, and relatability create a memoir that will stick with readers long after the last page.--Anitra Gates, Erie Cty. P.L., PA