When Truth Is All You Have

Praise

“[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)