Picking Cotton: Our Memoir Of Injustice And Redemptio 161804

Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption Book Reflection Paper

For this class, students are required to write a book reflection of the non-fiction book, Picking Cotton by Erin Torneo, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, and Ronald Cotton. The purpose of reading the book is for students to think critically and integrate criminal justice and psychology.

Please refer to the next pages for tips about how to write a good book review. Simply writing about what the book is about is NOT sufficient. Below are a list of prompts to help you get started.

Please note that these questions are not meant to be an exhaustive list of question to consider when writing your reflection; they are simply prompts to help you start writing. 1.) While reading the book, you may want to consider what you already know about the topic from past experience, research, or courses. This will allow you to better gauge how the book has shaped your opinion about this topic. What is the author’s main goal in writing this book? Explain the background of an event. Is the author trying to raise awareness about a particular issue? What are the author’s main points? What kind of evidence does the author provide to make her points? How convincing is this evidence? 2.) What was the book about? Please provide a brief summary of the book. 3.) What did you find most interesting about this book? 4.) What parts of the book did you agree with (if any) and why do you agree? 5.) What parts of the book did you disagree with (if any) and why do you disagree? 6.) Is there anything that you think could have made this documentary better? 7.) How do the issues and themes discussed in the book relate to class materials (i.e., textbook reading, lectures, class discussions, etc.)? 8.) What did you learn from this book? 9.) How has this book shaped your view on the issues discussed? 10.) What are some policy and practice implications of the information discussed in this book? In other words, what can policymakers, criminal justice practitioners, the legislature, or the public in general do to fix the issue(s) discussed?

Additional specific questions: Criminal Justice Related • Discuss some of the details from the trial, including the outcome. For example, did it take long for the jury to deliberate and reach a verdict? What was the verdict? Did Ronald Cotton plead guilty or not guilty? After reading the first part, “Jennifer’s Story,” did you believe Ronald Cotton was guilty? Why or why not? This are only suggestions for questions to answer regarding details from the trial. Feel free to elaborate in more detail, and answer other aspects pertaining to the trial. • Were you surprised by what happened at Ronald’s second trial? How did you feel when Jennifer did not recognize Bobby Poole? How did respond/feel when Ronald was convicted a second time? • Throughout, Ronald describes the challenges of life in prison as an innocent man. He writes, “Put a man in a cage with beasts and throw away the key, and it’s usually not very long before he man is a beast himself.” In what ways does this apply to Ronald’s incarceration? What do you think sustained Ronald while he was in prison? • What role does the act of asking for forgiveness play in the book? What about the act of granting forgiveness? Were you surprised that Jennifer asked to be forgiven for her mistakes? Were you surprised that Ronald chose to forgive her? What about Jennifer’s choice to forgive Bobby Poole? • Explain the disadvantages of eyewitness testimony in police investigations and in court testimony. Provide three examples from the book. • Explain how racial discrimination affected Ronald Cotton’s wrongful conviction. • This book highlighted the inherent flaws in the criminal justice system. How would modern forensic techniques ensure a fair trial for Ronald Cotton if the crime had occurred ten years later? Use three examples from the book.

Psychology Related • How do you feel about reliability of eyewitness testimony after reading Picking Cotton? Did Picking Cotton change any of your opinions about the judicial system? • In Picking Cotton, Jennifer comes to learn that memory can be “contaminated.” What actions by investigators inadvertently led to this? Have you ever had a memory that proved unreliable or false? • According to research, what are the best practices for eyewitness identification procedures?

Paper For Above instruction

The memoir "Picking Cotton" by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton, and Erin Torneo offers a compelling exploration of justice, memory, and forgiveness. At its core, the book recounts how Jennifer, a young woman in North Carolina, was assaulted and how Ronald Cotton was wrongfully convicted of the crime, only to be exonerated years later through DNA evidence. This narrative not only sheds light on flaws within the criminal justice system but also emphasizes the profound psychological and social impacts of wrongful convictions, including racial discrimination and errors in eyewitness identification.

In essence, the book argues for reforming investigative procedures and highlights the importance of forensic science, particularly DNA analysis, in ensuring justice. It raises critical awareness about the fallibility of human memory and the dangerous reliance on eyewitness testimony, which can be contaminated by cognitive biases, leading to wrongful convictions. The authors' main goal seems to be advocating for systemic change and emphasizing forgiveness and reconciliation, as exemplified by Ronald’s willingness to forgive Jennifer and Bobby Poole, the actual perpetrator.

The story provides a brief yet powerful summary of events starting from the assault on Jennifer, her identification of Ronald Cotton in a police lineup, and his subsequent conviction and imprisonment. The narrative then details the realization of the wrongful conviction after DNA evidence proved Ronald’s innocence. The emotional toll on both Jennifer and Ronald is palpable, revealing the devastating effects of miscarriages of justice on individuals and families.

What I found most intriguing was the psychological aspect of memory contamination and its implications for legal proceedings. Jennifer’s journey to understanding that her memory was “contaminated” by leading questions and suggestive police procedures was eye-opening. It forced me to reconsider the reliability of eyewitness testimony, which is often taken at face value in courtrooms. This aligns with psychological research indicating that memory is malleable and subject to distortions, particularly under trauma or pressure (Lindsay & Johnson, 2000).

I agree with the authors on the importance of forensic evidence, particularly DNA testing, in preventing wrongful convictions. The case exemplifies how advancements in forensic science can rectify systemic errors. Conversely, I disagree with the reliance on eyewitness testimony without corroborative evidence, as it is inherently flawed and susceptible to biases. This is supported by research indicating that eyewitness misidentification is a leading cause of wrongful convictions (Scheck & Neufeld, 2017).

One possible improvement to the book could be an expanded discussion on policy reforms and new forensic methods that could prevent future injustices. Additionally, more focus on systemic issues such as racial biases in the justice system would reinforce the urgency for change. The themes discussed tie directly to criminal justice practices and psychology, emphasizing the need for witness verification protocols and bias training for law enforcement (Wells, Memon, & Penrod, 2006).

Learning from this book reinforced the understanding that wrongful convictions are not merely individual failures but systemic issues requiring comprehensive reform. It changed my perspective on the criminal justice system, making me more aware of its vulnerabilities and the importance of scientific advancements like DNA testing. These insights suggest policy implications such as mandatory DNA testing in all cases with vague evidence and reforms to improve eyewitness identification procedures (National Research Council, 1999).

Regarding the trial specifics, the initial deliberation was swift, and Ronald was convicted based mainly on eyewitness identification. After Jennifer’s recognition of her mistake, the renewed evidence and lack of forensic corroboration eventually led to his exoneration. The emotional and psychological impacts of the wrongful imprisonment on Ronald, especially his feelings of betrayal and frustration, highlight the devastating consequences of systemic errors. His perseverance and capacity to forgive Jennifer demonstrate remarkable resilience and compassion, illustrating the human capacity for forgiveness even after grave injustice.

From a psychological perspective, the case underscores how the reliability of eyewitness testimony can be compromised by suggestive police procedures and confirmation biases. It also illustrates the importance of implementing best practices in identification procedures, such as lineups that are double-blind and conducted with proper witness instructions (Wells et al., 2006). The racial discrimination evident in this case exacerbated wrongful conviction risks, as Ronald, a Black man, was more vulnerable to racial biases influencing the jury and police perceptions.

Modern forensic tools like DNA analysis, which were not available during Ronald’s trial, could prevent similar miscarriages today by providing objective biological evidence. This case exemplifies how viewing crimes through the lens of psychology—examining memory, suggestion, and bias—is essential for fair justice. Overall, the book emphasizes that a combination of scientific evidence and awareness of psychological biases is crucial for preventing injustices and fostering trust in the legal system.

References

• Lindsay, D. S., & Johnson, M. K. (2000). Accuracy of Memory for Details of Trauma: The Effects of Post-Event Information. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 14(8), 885-902.
• Scheck, B., & Neufeld, P. J. (2017). Blind Justice: The Search for Truth and the End of Lies. New York: New Press.
• Wells, G. L., Memon, A., & Penrod, S. D. (2006). Eyewitness Identification: Scientific Research and Reform. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 7(2), 45-75.
• National Research Council. (1999). The Polygraph and Lie Detection. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
• Innocence Project. (n.d.). DNA Evidence and Wrongful Convictions. Retrieved from https://www.innocenceproject.org/dna-evidence-wrongful-convictions/
• Cutler, B. L., & Penrod, S. D. (2010). Witness Confidence and Identification Reliability: Consistency, Ceilings, and Confidence-Accuracy Effects. Law and Human Behavior, 34(3), 243-255.
• Bowers, C. A., & Memon, A. (2010). Eyewitness testimony, suggestibility, and confidence: Recent developments in research. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 15(2), 231-244.
• Fitzgerald, R. (2012). Innocence, Police Lineups, and Eyewitness Misidentification. Crime & Justice, 41(1), 113-185.
• Fitzgerald, R., & Loftus, E. F. (2016). Eyewitness Testimony and Identification Accuracy. Journal of Forensic Psychology, 22(4), 334-344.
• Wells, G. L., & Olson, E. A. (2003). Eyewitness Testimony. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 277-295.