When Truth Is All You Have
by Philip Lerman, Jim McCloskey, John Grisham
"A riveting and infuriating examination of criminal prosecutions, revealing how easy it is to convict the wrong person and how nearly impossible it is to undo the error." —Washington Post
"No one has illuminated this problem more thoughtfully and persistently." —Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy
Jim McCloskey was at a midlife crossroads when he met the man who would change his life. A former management consultant, McCloskey had grown disenchanted with the business world; he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary at the age of 37. His first assignment, in 1980, was as a chaplain at Trenton State Prison. Among the inmates was Jorge de los Santos, a heroin addict who'd been convicted of murder years earlier. He swore to McCloskey that he was innocent—and, over time, McCloskey came to believe him. With no legal or investigative training to speak of, McCloskey threw himself into the case. Two years later, thanks to those efforts, Jorge de los Santos walked free, fully exonerated.
McCloskey had found his calling. He established Centurion Ministries, the first group in America devoted to overturning wrongful convictions. Together with his staff and a team of forensic experts, lawyers, and volunteers—through tireless investigation and an unflagging dedication to justice—Centurion has freed 65 innocent prisoners who had been sentenced to life or death.
When Truth Is All You Have is McCloskey's inspirational story, as well as those of the unjustly imprisoned for whom he has fought. Spanning the nation, it is a chronicle of faith and doubt; of triumphant success and shattering failure. It candidly exposes a life of searching and struggle, uplifted by McCloskey's certainty that he had found what he was put on earth to do.
Filled with generosity, humor, and compassion, it is the soul-bearing account of a man who has redeemed innumerable lives—and incited a movement—with nothing more than his unshakeable belief in the truth.
Paperback
English
Brand New
Author Biography
JIM McCLOSKEY is the founder of Centurion Ministries. He served in the U.S. Navy, patrolling rivers in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, and spent twelve years in international consulting. He has a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Today McCloskey is retired from active oversight of Centurion, though he continues to serve on the board and pursue cases.
PHILIP LERMAN has been the national editor of USA Today, co-producer of "America's Most Wanted," and executive producer of PBS's "Made in Spain." He is the author of Dadditude and co-author of numerous nonfiction books.
Review
"[Exoneration] takes an advocate who is tireless, fearless, and dedicated to justice. A man like Jim McCloskey, the dean of all innocence advocates—The Exonerator"
—from the foreword by John Grisham
"Jim McCloskey is one of the foremost voices in the struggle to exonerate the wrongly convicted, and When Truth is All You Have is a poignant, piercing, and ultimately inspiring account of a life of sacrifice. Whether it's to the people he serves or to a more just criminal justice system, Jim McCloskey's devotion is a beacon of hope."
—Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking
"A riveting and infuriating examination of criminal prosecutions, revealing how easy it is to convict the wrong person and how nearly impossible it is to undo the error. [This book] upends our naive and complacent view of prosecutions…. Full of drama and hope…. In no small part because of McCloskey's work, Americans have radically reassessed the criminal justice system…. We need many more Jim McCloskeys."
—Washington Post
"Jim McCloskey and Centurion are pioneers in the struggle to expose the tragedy of innocent people wrongly convicted and sent to prison in America...No one has illuminated this problem more thoughtfully and persistently than Rev. McCloskey and his extraordinary team at Centurion. There are important stories we have yet to hear about what we've done in America and no one is better positioned to tell them than Jim McCloskey."
—Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy
"Jim McCloskey, the godfather of the innocence movement, changed the way we think about crime and punishment...[This book] is fascinating."
—Texas Monthly
"If you're reading Black Lives Matter-related books about the role of police or white blindness to social problems, this timely book is one for your list."
—Washington Independent Review of Books
"Fascinating and illuminating. McCloskey's skill as a storyteller walks us through the facts of each stage with frank and empathetic attention...When Truth Is All You Have is a sobering education in the problems of the justice system and the costs it inflicts on individuals...[and] a troubling exploration of how easily truth becomes abused, ignored, and rewritten: a warning resonant for our times."
—Friends Journal
"A heartfelt and heart-rending story of fighting wrongful convictions...The narrative charts triumphant stories of innocent persons freed, heartbreaking tales of defeat, and disappointing insights into a broken justice system...Compassionate tales from a dedicated warrior for justice."
—Kirkus (starred review)
"[An] engaging memoir...McCloskey's inspiring stories form a moving collective profile."
—Publishers Weekly
"Though generally broaching serious subjects, the writers are able to bring levity at appropriate moments, reflecting McCloskey's overall philosophy of hope...This will be essential for collections focused on social justice, the wrongly convicted, and spiritual transformation."
—Library Journal (starred review)
Review Quote
"[Exoneration] takes an advocate who is tireless, fearless, and dedicated to justice. A man like Jim McCloskey, the dean of all innocence advocates--The Exonerator" --from the foreword by John Grisham "Jim McCloskey is one of the foremost voices in the struggle to exonerate the wrongly convicted, and When Truth is All You Have is a poignant, piercing, and ultimately inspiring account of a life of sacrifice. Whether it's to the people he serves or to a more just criminal justice system, Jim McCloskey's devotion is a beacon of hope." -- Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ , author of Dead Man Walking "A riveting and infuriating examination of criminal prosecutions, revealing how easy it is to convict the wrong person and how nearly impossible it is to undo the error. [This book] upends our naive and complacent view of prosecutions.... Full of drama and hope.... In no small part because of McCloskey's work, Americans have radically reassessed the criminal justice system.... We need many more Jim McCloskeys." -- Washington Post "Jim McCloskey and Centurion are pioneers in the struggle to expose the tragedy of innocent people wrongly convicted and sent to prison in America...No one has illuminated this problem more thoughtfully and persistently than Rev. McCloskey and his extraordinary team at Centurion. There are important stories we have yet to hear about what we've done in America and no one is better positioned to tell them than Jim McCloskey." -- Bryan Stevenson , author of Just Mercy "Jim McCloskey, the godfather of the innocence movement, changed the way we think about crime and punishment...[This book] is fascinating." -- Texas Monthly "If you're reading Black Lives Matter-related books about the role of police or white blindness to social problems, this timely book is one for your list." -- Washington Independent Review of Books "A heartfelt and heart-rending story of fighting wrongful convictions...The narrative charts triumphant stories of innocent persons freed, heartbreaking tales of defeat, and disappointing insights into a broken justice system...Compassionate tales from a dedicated warrior for justice." -- Kirkus (starred review) "[An] engaging memoir...McCloskey's inspiring stories form a moving collective profile." -- Publishers Weekly "Though generally broaching serious subjects, the writers are able to bring levity at appropriate moments, reflecting McCloskey's overall philosophy of hope...This will be essential for collections focused on social justice, the wrongly convicted, and spiritual transformation." -- Library Journal (starred review)
Excerpt from Book
One New Jersey, 1979 I guess if you saw him on the street, you might think he had just stepped off the floor of a disco, with his dusky good looks and his trimmed mustache and the tight shirts that were the style back in those days, although it was unlikely you''d see him on the street, and he was beginning to wonder if he''d ever see the streets again. Ever. Jorge de los Santos paced back and forth in his jail cell in what was then known as Rahway State Prison. Maybe four steps to cover the entire length of it; if he reached his arms out, he could almost touch the walls on both sides at once. A toilet sat in the middle of the back wall; his bed covered most of the left side of the cell. And as he paced, he asked himself a question, over and over, a question for which there was no answer. Soy un hombre inocente.
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