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The Parole Room

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The Parole Room

By: Ben Austen
Narrated by: Ben Austen
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About this listen

Will Johnnie Veal—convicted of the murder of two police officers in 1970—be granted parole after 50 years in prison? How can he convince the parole board he’s reformed when he insists he’s innocent? What is prison time even supposed to accomplish? These are the questions that propel The Parole Room forward as it builds toward Johnnie’s 20th parole hearing—after 19 rejections.

The Parole Room is an intimate journey with Johnnie, a deep dive into the criminal legal system, and a parole-room drama—taking listeners behind the curtain to hear tense deliberations as they unfold. The series is vivid, emotional, and complex, bringing new questions and insights about the US justice system and the country as a whole.

From the writer of the critically acclaimed book Correction and the producer behind the Pulitzer Prize- and Peabody Award-winning podcast You Didn’t See Nothin, The Parole Room is necessary storytelling for our time.

©2024 Ben Austen (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC
Judicial Systems Politics & Government True Crime
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"What about redemption?"

Through this book, with interviews and background grouped together like podcasts, the story of part of the U.S. justice system is examined predominantly through the case of one man, Johnnie Veal. Johnnie had been arrested,and, aged 17, was convicted of being an accomplice in the shooting of two policemen Despite lack of evidence, his own denial and having been somewhere else at the time. We, with the author, join Johnnie at the commencement of an appeal for parole 50 years after his conviction. This is not his first attempt despite having been a model prisoner and despite his now 67 years of age and many character endorsements, was thought unlikely to succeed, in part because he has always denied guilt and so could not show his proclaimed not to have done.

With numerous interviews with Johnnie, family members, other inmates, members of the courts and police officers, and some good jazz quietly in the.background, a grim picture of the US penal service is revealed and how it is failing so many in numerous ways. Sad but well presented. A book everyone should read

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Excellent, important, necessary story of the deeply flawed US prison system

Thoughtfully, compassionately reported podcast with a real feel for the nuances & complexities of the story being told. For anyone interested in understanding the US prison system today.

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What else can you say

You can explain and review the great dictation, story telling etc, all valid. But this is humanity described in it's fullest through the valid lense of the brutal western system of punishment over rehabilitation and the racial and classist legal system. It's depressing, occasionally uplifting and honest. One can only hope the past does not reflect the future.

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Amazing grace

…how bittersweet the sound. But we have to listen, and I applaud the patience, skill, tenacity and love behind this story Much appreciated and recommended.

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