Review of The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff Rating *****
The central plot in this book involves a wrongful conviction. But that is just one among many threads in this expansive nonfiction work. Over the course of its 450 pages, the author manages to weave in several related stories: the history of New Haven, Conneiticut, the history of the Winchester company, racial divide, mass incarceration, education, poverty, the difficulties that previously incarcerated individuals have in reacclimating into society, and a host of other social ills. And if that isn’t enough, there are book-length biographies of many of the key players.
I used a combination of Kindle and audiobook to work my way through the book, with most of my time spent listening on Audible as I walked my dog. I think we put in several dozen miles.
Despite the many tangents in the story, it never felt tedious. I happen to be interested in all of the topics covered. The author weaves his story around the main plot of sixteen-year-old Bobby, who falls victim to two incompetent police detectives who would rather use intimidation and lies to secure an arrest than do any actual detective work.
The list of people who have falsely confessed to crimes they did not commit is lengthy. Some of the common denominators include young males without representation, lengthy interrogations, threats of long prison sentences along with promises of leniency if they cooperate, lies about evidence, lies about statements from witnesses, intimidation, sleep deprivation, etc.
The bad police work is made even more appalling when their errors are brought to light, and they not only deny having made any mistakes but brag about their record of solved cases. I’m talking to you, Detective Willoughby.
Correcting an injustice like Bobby’s is a difficult task. It’s even more difficult when there is a confession and no DNA that will exonerate him. For that, Bobby had to rely on the work of one dedicated lawyer, Ken Rosenthal, who believed in Bobby’s innocence and worked tirelessly to gain his freedom.
At one point, the author spent several chapters on Bobby’s effort to get a driver’s license after his release from prison. At first, I thought it was a stretch to spend so much time on what seemed like such an inconsequential topic, but then the author described how the lack of transportation or a driver’s license perpetuates the lack of opportunities for those living in poverty. When there is only one car in a family or no car, it makes life difficult for anyone trying to find work.
While Bobby did receive compensation for his time behind bars, I never felt that he received a windfall that would allow him to pursue his dreams. Instead, I was left with the feeling that his life after his prison experience was a struggle and that he never fully recovered.