Tag Archives: Reclaiming Lives

Class Act Reviews…

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Thanks for visiting. It’s been a while since my last posting.

I’m checking in with a quick update on latest activities in my ongoing mission to advocate for six innocent men. With COVID-19 putting a halt to all book events and nonessential travel, I’ve spent the past year revising my book by inserting new information, eliminating lesser relevant information, and adding additional chapters that contain exciting new developments. This second edition, which will include the entire story from the first book as well as the other aforementioned content, will be published sometime this year.  So, stay tuned for the next wave as I once again, do my best to “shake up the legal system in the name of six wrongfully convicted men!”

Brown County Courthouse, Green Bay, Wisconsin

This past year I’ve been asked to participate in virtual class sessions with college students, many of whom are in undergraduate sociology, criminology, and legal studies who have been taking a course on wrongful convictions. Part of their assignment has been to read my book prior to my joining them for a later discussion. My next (virtual) session takes place this week on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

And now…allow me to step aside and present to you these recent class act (Amazon) reviews from some of those students. There are quite a few so, grab a favorite beverage and get comfy…

5* Truly Inspirational! “Reclaiming Lives by Joan Treppa is such a great book. It really shows that there are truly people on this planet who genuinely care about people’s well-being. Her passion in this book is uncanny, and I wholeheartedly admire her bravery and determination in helping the wrongfully convicted “Monfils Six” see justice and freedom. This book kept me on my toes, and I can honestly say it was really hard to put down! Treppa’s journey is truly an inspiration to us all – it shows me that people can do good when they put their minds to it and give a task their all. Treppa began her work after reading a book about this case’s facts, and she is an ordinary person with a non-legal background in criminal justice. Both her passion for the Monfils case and her care for people led her to the choice of helping the men accused of this crime, and I can only hope to be as brave as she was when she made that decision! I enjoy the fact that she chose to write it as more of a memoir rather than just a story with a series of the events that perspired. Not only does it make it even more evident that she truly cares, but it also made it a really captivating book!

This book should definitely be required in schools (high school and college) as it is incredibly insightful and a really good book for discussions. I suggest to anyone reading this to keep up with this case on Joan Treppa’s website because this case is truly baffling! I am very grateful to have been allowed to read this book for a class because otherwise, I do not think I would have ever come across this book. This book has proven to me, yet again, that the American criminal justice system needs to be improved and held accountable for its misdeeds.” – Shannon

5* Criminal Justice Must Read!! “Reclaiming Lives is an absolute must read for anyone considering a career in the criminal justice system or working with the non-profit organization the Innocence Project! Not only is Joan Treppa a fantastic writer, she is also an incredibly determined individual! I cannot tell you how much I appreciated this book, it invokes a passion for helping people that has been lost in many of our lives. While reading this book I felt almost like I was standing alongside her on this journey. Treppa really gives this story a personal feel that will inspire you to take action and right the wrongs of the criminal justice system. It is heartbreaking to know that there are so many people in prison for a crime that they did not commit or for a crime that was completely fabricated. Luckily there are people in this world like Joan Treppa, to pursue what is right and just. She is truly an inspiration, especially to anyone who is planning to have a career in the criminal justice system.

Joan Treppa is a unique individual who has dedicated so much of her time and energy to helping six innocent men. Since Treppa is an average everyday person, her book is written in layman’s terms so it is easy for the average reader to understand and relate to. It is my belief that if more people were like Treppa, there would be fewer innocent people in prisons. We could all learn a thing or two from her determination and her bravery. I hope that this review gives you the gentle nudge to purchase her book or to at least look into volunteering with the Innocence Project team. There are approximately 1.5 million people convicted of felonies and are serving time in prison, of those 1.5 million roughly 15,000 are innocent (Norris et al. 2018, p. 6). Joan Treppa and the people working with the Innocence Project are dedicated to freeing those innocent people and making sure that wrongful convictions do not happen to anyone else. What will you do to help?” – Erin H.

5* An Interesting Book! “Reclaiming Lives by Joan Treppa is a unique book. Joan Treppa describes her journey to help seek justice for the six innocent men that were accused of a crime they did not do. I had to read this book for class and I could not put this book down. I thought Joan Treppa did a great job telling her story and made it possible for her audience to connect to her and her journey. I have read books about wrongful convictions however, I have not read any book quite like this.

Joan Treppa had no relations to the men she was trying to help, she was simply just an advocate for justice. I believe her story is inspiring for other advocates wanting justice for innocent people in prison. Joan Treppa shows throughout her journey how hard and emotionally draining advocate work can be, however, she kept pursuing to try and help these men receive justice. Reclaiming Lives although can be an inspirational book it also can be a hard book to read. I am a very empathic person, and when I read this book I became super emotional when thinking about these innocent men and what they had to go through. These men did not deserve to go to prison and face the hardships they faced.

I really liked how Joan Treppa set up this book. In the beginning, she describes how she got involved with the Monfils case and then each chapter going forward describes each step she took to help these men receive justice. As a social justice advocate, I really enjoyed reading this book. It does a good job of highlighting the hardship advocates can go through but how it is important to not let that stop you from seeking justice. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about wrongful convictions or who wants to know how impactful advocates can be to people and communities.” – Unknown

4* A Great Read about the Fight for Innocence, from Inside and Outside of Prison. “Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men tells the incredible story of a case of injustice that has gone on far too long, and Joan Treppa’s journey of becoming a citizen advocate for the wrongfully convicted men. While I wish that we got a little more of the intricacies of the case from the perspectives of said men, the work done in this book to explain how they have been mistreated and blamed in the criminal justice system, and how Joan has become the fighter for their innocence is nothing short of amazing. What makes the book so interesting is that it is not just the story of the men and their wrongful convictions but more so about Treppa, as someone who initially was just a person interested in the case with little prior legal knowledge, taking huge steps forward and becoming the advocate she is today for not just these six Wisconsin men, but many others as well. This dedication of her life to helping out others that have been less fortunate is inspiring to see how a person not personally connected to a case will go so far to help fight for what is right in a system that often is plague with many wrongs. Something that really drives this point home well is the use of more causal, everyday terms to help explain what the criminal justice system has done and her efforts to get them exonerated. Instead of being riddled with criminal and legal jargon that can often push readers away, Joan really makes it clear that with just a little learning, everyday readers like you and me can become involved in helping free those who have been wrongfully convicted. The book is a great read that, although at times may seem slow, tell the real struggles that both the innocent men and Treppa go through which is absolutely worth taking the time to read.”  – C-Z

5* Great Read! “Reclaiming Lives” is the story about a brave woman, the author of the book, Joan Treppa, who sought to bring awareness of the innocence of six men who were wrongfully convicted of murder in Green Bay, WI. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as you travel through time with the author and her experiences and fight to get these men exonerated. I enjoyed reading about Treppa’s journey and the hardships she and her colleagues faced in their fight. This book is incredibly eye-opening to how common wrongful convictions are. It makes me angry that these men lost everything over several government actors’ misconduct. And it will tug on your heartstrings to know all that these men have lost while being incarcerated. Joan Treppa is incredibly inspirational and will make you want to know more about where, to begin with helping out other people who are wrongfully convicted. This book hit home for me because I was born in Wisconsin and currently live in the Minneapolis area. It made me teary-eyed to hear about how many Minneapolis community members contributed to helping these six men. This book is very well written and gives an excellent play-by-play of Joan’s journey.

I promise once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone interested in wrongful convictions, especially those with a closed mind about wrongful convictions. This book sheds light on how easily wrongful convictions occur and their effect on the exoneree and their family members. We always tend to focus on the incarcerated people, and Joan makes sure to tell everyone’s story, including the stories of some of the wrongfully accused family members. Joan shows the importance of a community coming together to advocate for others who don’t have the opportunity to do so for themselves. She has touched so many people with this book. She also shows how the Green Bay Police Department and prosecutors mishandled this case.”  – Rachel

5* Book Review: “This book was gripping from the very beginning. Personally, I really liked the perspective of Joan writing from the position of a citizen advocate, a position that is rarely talked about today. Many people like to take the frontlines on these issues and I think Joan’s perspective offers a new light on the situation as a whole. This perspective shows us how important this issue is based on other normal people becoming entrenched by this case. It made me want to know more about it too and why it had enraged all of these different types of people. The case that this book follows was mind blowing. As you will read, even people who had no idea about how the criminal justice system functions knew that something was wrong right from the start. The book talks about the intricacies of the case and the people that are still out in the world trying to get the rest of the people out of prison. An interesting dynamic throughout the entirety of this book was that one of the original six defendants has been released, while the others have yet to have an appeal approved. This one defendant, known as Pie, spends his life after prison trying to right these wrongs. It is fascinating hearing from his perspective about what life is like for these men who are still in prison and living in that environment. He also gives key insight to many of the activists about how unjust the original trial was. If you are looking for a book about wrongful convictions that is a thrilling read while also not being super “heady” and “wordy” about the criminal justice system, this book is for you!” – Sarah

5* A Must Read! “This book was a very good read about Joan’s journey through the Monfils case. From when she learned about the case to the end of the book, she advocates for the six innocent men in this case. I thought it was very powerful how she was fighting for these innocent people and miscarriages of justice within the criminal justice system. She did this from her personal challenges she had faced, and felt for them. She wanted to fight for their dignity and sense of self which really stood out to me. This book was very enticing in the sense that it pulled you into all the emotions of the book. I felt angry for them and at our broken system. Feeling all the whirlwinds of emotions as you read a book just shows how well written it is. I think it is good that people are writing and advocating for these people who get drug into the criminal justice system when they are innocent to shine a light on the issues and injustices that happen. Light needs to be shed on these injustices in order for change to be able to happen. If they are continuously overlooked, nothing will happen. It is great that Joan does so and is an advocate for this. I thought it was great how she shared her personal experiences in addition. Going into the depths of the case and through the stories of the six men who were wrongly convicted showed the prejudice and inequality that happens within our system. Overall, the book was great in putting a perspective on this issue within our system, and very insightful.”  – Emma

To view the reviews online.

Survivors and Heroes = True Champions…

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“This looks like the place,” I said to my husband, Mike as we hurried to the entrance of the Giddens Alumni Learning Center on the Hamline University campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was feeling anxious because we were running late for a screening of the wrongful conviction documentary True Conviction.

According to the trailer we viewed online, the film tells the story of how three Texas exonerees; Christopher Scott, Steven Phillips, and Johnnie Lindsey1 combined forces to form a new detective agency based in Dallas, TX called House of Renewed Hope. Founded by Scott in 2010, the main focus of this non-profit organization is to help other wrongfully convicted prisoners.

Exonerees Johnnie Lindsey, Christopher Scott and Steven Phillips. (Photo used with permission from Independent Lens PBS)                      

Since becoming advocates for the wrongfully convicted, Mike and I have acquainted ourselves with both the courageous survivors of an imperfect criminal justice system and the everyday heroes working tirelessly to correct its many flaws. That evening, Thursday, April 19, 2018, we were about to meet Christopher Scott, one of those true champions who inadvertently dangled on both sides of that fence. After having been targeted, convicted, and exonerated for a crime he did not commit he began a crusade to help others achieve the same ending. He simply couldn’t forget the ones he knew about that had been left behind in prison.

Christopher and I connected on social media before this event was publicized and I was thrilled to learn he was the guest of honor. Being among the last to arrive at the theater-like room—now bustling with people—I hoped we didn’t miss our chance to speak with him before the film started. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the opportunity as an evening progresses and I worried about delivering a special gift to him that I had brought along.

I scanned the room as we descended the stairs. I spotted Christopher sitting by himself and not currently engaged in conversation. “Looks like we’ve arrived in time to introduce ourselves,” I told Mike.

On our way over to where Christopher sat, we said a quick “hello” to M Sheridan Embser-Herbert, director of the Hamline University Center for Justice and Law who was hosting the event. Standing near Christopher were the Innocence Project of Minnesota’s executive director, Nick Vilbas and the Project’s legal director, Julie Jonas.

Nick Vilbas, M Sheridan Embser-Herbert, Christopher Scott and  Julie Jonas (Photo courtesy of the Innocence Project of Minnesota)           

Christopher appeared relaxed as we approached. When I extended my hand to shake his, he sat tall and smiled while returning the gesture.

“Hey Christopher, I’m Joan,” I said. You and I are friends on twitter.”

Christopher’s face lit up and in a distinct Southern drawl he said, “I enjoy our twitter conversations.”

The three of us chatted for a few minutes. I then retrieved a copy of my book Reclaiming Lives from my handbag. “Here it is,” I said to Christopher. “And check out the sticker on the cover. I won a national book award.”

Christopher was grateful for the gift and said, “I’m definitely planning on reading this during my flight home.”

The film was about to start so Mike and I quickly found a pair of empty seats in the row behind and kitty-corner to where Christopher was seated.

The documentary—which aired on the Independent LensPBS program on April 30th—takes the audience on a deeply personal journey of the friendship, commitment, and heartache this trio had experienced. In addition to highlighting the work of their organization, the film reveals the circumstances of each of their wrongful convictions. Christopher’s roots and the repercussions of his absence which presented new and ongoing challenges for his family, are also emphasized in this highly emotionally charged film.

Christopher’s story: Christopher’s troubles began in 1997 when he wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time while driving to a friend’s house in a Dallas neighborhood. A robbery and fatal shooting had taken place that night, somewhere in the vicinity. There was a lot of commotion on the street with squad cars hugging the side of the road and flashing lights engaged. Police officers in the area were on high alert, looking for suspects. As Christopher cautiously drove by, he wondered what had happened. And he realized as he turned the corner that a squad car with its flashers on had pulled up behind him and started to follow him. Christopher reached his destination. While inside his friend’s house, more squad cars showed up and officers surrounded the house. Christopher and his friend were asked to exit the house and lay down on the ground out front. Numerous suspects were brought to the same location and asked to do the same. Christopher was eventually singled out as a person of interest even though his clothing didn’t match the description of the clothing the perpetrators wore. Nevertheless, he was taken to the police station for questioning, handcuffed with his hands behind his back, and placed in a room by himself. A woman appeared with an officer that Christopher recognized as the one who had brought him in. The officer asked the woman if Christopher was the man who had killed her husband. She confirmed that he was.

Christopher was charged with murder and after an eight day trial, received a life sentence. It had been that easy to take an innocent life and turn it into a hellish nightmare.

During the film, I glanced over at Christopher on occasion to observe his reactions to the tragedies that unfolded before us. Each time, I saw tears in his eyes. I guessed that the drive…strength of character…and courage of this man along with an ability to show compassion and empathy toward others—all of which were aptly portrayed in the film—were rooted in the pain he was now feeling as he relived those moments.

(Photo courtesy of the Hamline University Center for Justice and Law)              

After the film, Christopher spoke to the audience and kindly mentioned my name when expressing his appreciation for the support he received that evening. During an interactive discussion that followed, many in the audience expressed their dismay about what they had witnessed, the many lives torn apart, and how widespread the corruption within the criminal justice system is. One woman shared a personal story about her son’s recent wrongful conviction. This spurred a conversation about term limits, elections, and how judges and prosecutors are too easily re-elected especially when they run unopposed. Also mentioned was the despicable lack of accountability of these officials when findings of unethical and unlawful practices—blatant disregard for the law—are exposed.

Exoneree Christopher Scott with Joan and Mike Treppa                                       

Mike and I did get the chance to speak with Christopher at length afterward. I remarked, “You didn’t have a dry eye the entire time, did you?”

“No, I didn’t,” he admitted. “This stays with you,” said Christopher of his experience. “And I don’t expect it will ever go away.”

Also joining the conversation was Mark Saxenmeyer, CEO of The Reporter’s Inc.; a Minneapolis based journalistic production company promoting social change and justice through multimedia storytelling.

“Mark is producing a wrongful conviction documentary called Guilty Until Proven Innocent,” I told Christopher.

Mark went on to explain that this film is still in production. “Ours will run as a series and focus on a number of wrongful conviction cases from across the country,” Mark said. “And the Wisconsin Monfils case will be featured in this series.” .                

Ironically, 2009 was a pivotal year for Christopher…and for me. He had been declared “actually innocent” and was released from prison when the person who committed the murder came forward to confess. He spent thirteen years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

2009 was the year I learned there are innocent people in prison and that they can be convicted based on little, inadequate, flawed or NO evidence whatsoever. I learned that in a significant amount of cases, evidence is even fabricated to fit a specific theory! That year I began my crusade on behalf of the six innocent men convicted in the 1992 death of mill worker Tom Monfils; a murder many of us believe never happened.

(L to R) Decedent Tom Monfils, convicted men; Dale Basten, Michael Johnson, Michael Hirn, Reynold Moore, Keith Kutska, and exoneree Michael Piaskowski  

I was able to share an incredible irony with Christopher about Jamie Meltzer; MFA program director in documentary film at Stanford University and director of True Conviction. Years ago, through an online networking webpage called About.me, a similar interest in wrongful convictions forged a brief connection between Jamie and me. The timeline suggests he was in the early stages of putting this film together while I was in the throes of publicizing my mission on behalf of the Wisconsin men. Because of Jamie’s affiliation with Stanford University, I had given him the name of Lawrence Marshall—also affiliated with Stanford—as a reference for his project because of my knowledge of the appellate work Marshall had done for one of the six wrongfully convicted men I support.

Final thoughts: I see time and again that until a wrongful conviction touches us personally, we too easily and too often cast the issue aside as irrelevant or insignificant. We must acknowledge that these circumstances destroy families, tear communities apart, and affect our everyday lives more than we could ever imagine. We must celebrate people like Jamie, entities like PBS, and organizations like House of Renewed Hope, The Reporter’s Inc., The Innocence Network, and The Center for Justice and Law, all of whom so willingly and diligently create an awareness and help to change laws and procedures that undermine our freedoms.

Please join me in saying…THANK YOU!

1) As is on the HRH website: “Sadly in 2018, cancer took Johnnie’s life but his spirit lives on and he will forever be a member of the team.”

2) Dale Basten—the oldest of the Wisconsin men—was paroled in 2017 due to his failing health when his medical costs at $92K/yr. became too costly for the WI prison system to absorb. Sadly, in June of 2018, he passed away in a nursing home with his two daughters at his side.

I’m Dreaming of a Fair System…

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  “Every child must be made aware…

               Every child must be made to care…

                          Care enough for his fellow man…

                                   To give all the love that he can…”    

–Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy lyrics                                                                                                           (By Bing Crosby and David Bowie) 

I’ve always been fond of this verse. Pick any time in our history and it rings as true as the day. These days, as I strive to regain composure from the devastating blow handed down from the U. S. court system earlier this year to Keith Kutska, Michael Hirn, Reynold Moore, Michael Johnson, and Dale Basten; five men victimized by a corrupt system for close to twenty-two years for a crime they did not commit, I’m reminded of Keith’s spirited and powerfully truthful words in his forward for my book…

 “…an innocent person can choose to maintain his own integrity. It is one thing the system cannot take.” – Keith M. Kutska

October 29, 1995: Keith (in background) with his attorney on the front page of the Green Bay Press-Gazette

 We all have a choice in how to live meaningful lives no matter where circumstances take us. I say, let us never disregard the powerful messages coming from the unfortunate victims of our criminal justice system who’ve been silenced but have still found the fortitude to teach integrity through example.

Homemade Christmas card from an innocent incarcerated person 

As a show of support for a handful of these victims, I write letters to let them know they are not forgotten. During this holiday season, I’m sharing one such letter I wrote recently in an attempt to keep alive, the one thing that can elevate an individual’s spirit…HOPE. Because the absence of hope can completely shatter a person’s sense of identity and in some cases, a will to live.  Without hope, all that is left is despair. And isn’t there enough of that in this world already?

Dear —–,                                                                                  12-28-2017

This is a bit late but I’m writing to wish you Merry Christmas. I’m a social justice advocate who became aware of your case through social media. I’m saddened about your situation but grateful for the support you have to carry you through the darkness. I have a number of friends who’ve been victimized by corruption within our judicial system. Some have been exonerated while others have not. I’ve learned so much about life from all of them, especially about appreciation for what I have and how easily a wrongful conviction could affect my personal life.

For the past eight years my focus has been from an outsider’s point of view of a wrongful conviction case involving six Wisconsin men. They were sentenced in 1995 to life in prison for an alleged murder that took place in 1992. I didn’t know the men or their families or even about the case until my sister, Clare, a long-time resident of Green Bay, brought it to my attention in 2009. She had met someone co-writing a book that documents all of the facts in the case. She also knew one of the six men and never believed he was party to a murder.

I eventually read the book and decided to get involved because of how ludicrous the whole scenario sounded. It was clear to me that this was bullying by the law enforcement community. Like yours and so many other cases there was no credible evidence or eyewitnesses to positively confirm that a murder took place. The entire investigation was about building a case around a suspect rather than allowing the evidence to lead them to the truth. I wrote my own book about my observations of what I saw and the similarities of this case with many other wrongful conviction cases. As a non-legal person I also disclosed my personal mission and the process of finding new legal representation for these men and why that was my only option moving forward. I self-published this year and actually won a national book award soon after. Unfortunately, although I found amazing attorneys to reopen the case, the legal process has gone south due to politics and the established ties to the case in the higher WI courts. However, one of the six men was exonerated in 2001 which gives me hope that the others also have a shot. So my intent to find similar relief for them remains steadfast.

On this journey I’ve learned the importance of writing to the men. I understand how much it means to anyone behind bars, especially those incarcerated for crimes they did not commit, to have a link to the ‘outside’ world. So here’s my contribution to the writing campaign set forth by those representing you. It is also a tribute to the vast need for more folks to get involved in this issue or something equally important rather than merely complaining about the ills of the world. I am hopeful that this and the message of how destructive wrongful convictions are to our society also becomes an adequate example to follow for those who read my book. 

                                                                                                 Best of wishes to you, my friend.

                                                                                                                             Joan

 

All the best to all of you this holiday season and throughout the New Year!