The Innocence Project

     I think I have finished my thinking capacity when it comes to this blog! I have no more ideas on what to write about to concerning this book. So I went on Mrs.Matsuda's blog page to see if any ideas would spark. Thankfully she posted things that we could have used in case we did have a brain fart. So I looked which one interested me the most. Then I stumbled upon the first link that she had posted there because it seemed interesting called The Innocence Project.

     So I clicked on the link and I checked it out and it definitely caught my attention. This project was founded around 1992 and have exonerated more than 250 people in the United States, including 17 who were at one time sentenced to death. The Innocence Project is a national and public organization dedicated to wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. If we take the situation that Jefferson is in and modernize it, what would have become of him? I believe that if it were today in day, he would have been convicted to death. However, I believe that The Innocence Project lawyers would be able to release him. Jefferson did not touch anyone and because of all the technology that we have he would have been able to be proven innocent if anything.
     Back in the day, many people were wrongfully convicted of crimes that the did not due. However now in day, technology is improving and many people are still being exonerated from their sentencing. Not only are they trying to help these people get out of their wrongful sentencing but they are also trying to have a policy reform. This is something that is very interesting and would have never stumbled upon if i did not see it on her blog.

Grants Reluctant Attitude

     As I was reading on and looking at how far Grant and Jefferson have come along, it hit me. Before all this progress Grant was so unwilling and reluctant to go help Jefferson. He had said some mean things to Tante Lou and Miss Emma in regards to Jefferson and how he had no hope. Why was he being like that instead of just trying to help the poor child out?

     At first Grant tells Tante Lou that there is no hope for Jefferson and that there is no point in wasting his time. He tried to tell them that he is a lost cause. If i was Miss Emma, I wouldn't know how I would have felt hearing that from a supposedly close family friend. They are basically arguing it out right in front of Miss Emma. Eventually Tante Lou has enough and guilt Grant into going to visit Jefferson. Even upon the first visit to see Jefferson, you can see how Grant is acting. If I were Tante Lou, I would have been very upset because I know she didn't raise him to behave like that. Miss Emma must have been heart broken to see that no one had any hope in her child. I guess Grant was reluctant because he didn't want to bear all of that weigh from Tante Lou and Miss Emma. He didn't want to fail them and have that on his shoulders. Not only them, but I don't think he wanted to fail Jefferson either. In the end, he ends up dropping his guard and finally going to see Jefferson because he wants to.
     Initially Grant does not want to help Jefferson because he believes he is a lost cause. Grant, to me at that moment, was being selfish and ignorant. He should have done it for Miss Emma and because they were asking him to do it. It wouldn't do anyone any damage if he did it. Besides in the end, not only did he succeed but he also changed within himself. 

Changes in Jefferson

     Prior to chapter 20, Jefferson is hopeless and dismayed. Upon the first visit with Miss Emma and Grant, Jefferson acts like a zombie. That only his body is there, but mentally he has checked out and is somewhere else. The visits that follow don't seem to have any change either. They follow the similar pattern. However when Grant goes alone to visit Jefferson, he completely changes his attitude.
     In chapter 11, he decides to live up to the words of his own defense attorney. He starts to copy actions that are similar to that of an animal, aka a hog, by eating out of the bag on all for legs and making all these sounds. Jefferson, truly believes the words that his attorney had said and he is determined to stay that way.  As time goes on, and Grant tries everything things start to change once we hit chapter 20. When Grant enters his cell, you can see that there is a distinct change in their relationship and the conversation. Its as if Jefferson is finally making choices that are breaking down the title placed on him by everyone else. Throughout these chapters you can see that Jefferson is now starting to take in what Grant tells him. The roles eventually switch as Grant becomes the one who needs Jefferson's help. You can see that Jefferson now wants to be different. These changes, including the radio, the notebook and even as small as involving the way he eats his food, show everyone else that not all hope is lost and that he is becoming a man.
     The little things show that Jefferson is now starting to move away from the idea that he is a hog. He is no longer convinced by that idea, but that he is in fact a man. There is hope for Jefferson in what we see in these chapters. Grant is actually making progress with him even when he doubted himself.