Mean Justice: A Town's Terror, a Prosecutor's Power, a Betrayal of Innocence

by Edward Humes

Book Overview

The incredible true story of a California town where the innocent are presumed guilty and dozens of ordinary citizens have been convicted of crimes they did not commit.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684831740
• ISBN13: 9780684831749
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 491 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Read it and weep

The author writes a compelling and convincing book and the many reviews here will attest. It is well worth reading on its own merits but I would have asked to three things if I had been able to talk to the author before it went to press. First, prosecutors come to genuinely believe that they are dragon slayers and all the shenanigans that they pull are really OK and for the greater good. In in-depth psychological profile from a clinical point of view would help give perspective and compassion for them. Second, I think the book would have been better balanced if there had been less emphasis on the Pat Dunn case and more on the child molestation cases. The coerced testimony of children by zealous hypocrites who claim that they are in fact trying to protect those children is particularly repugnant. The idea investigators would literally drive down the street and have children point at "bad" people which would then be promptly arrested is contrary to any ethical standard of enforcement. The endless years of suffering, court battles, imprisonment and mental anguish of these victims and their families is the sad result on the what happens when checks and balances fail and justice is replaced by hysteria and megalomania. These people deserve a better hearing of their grievances. Last, though the book has copious endnotes and appendices, it has no index

Great Book, Nominated for an Edgar Award

Mean Justice is a brilliant investigation of one man's wrongful murder conviction and the broader subject of prosecutorial misconduct, a national disgrace. This is a big story, a national story, though it's setting is somewhat provincial, which to me makes it all the more interesting. It is also a riproaring story, which is why this book was just named a finalist for the prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Fact Crime. I have examined the prosecutorial response to this book, and it is a laughable piece of propaganda that ignores or distorts Humes' findings. Most disgraceful is the fact that this propaganda was financed by tax dollars! A national magazine recently examined the allegations in this piece of propaganda and found it so lacking in veracity that it killed the story. If you want the truth, read Mean Justice. If you want fiction, the Kern County District Attorney has plenty!

Another Great Job by Humes

Among those of us who write about crime for a living, the name Edward Humes commands instant respect. Humes assiduously avoids the easy route, which is to sensationalize, embroider and embellish in an attempt to play to the cheap seats and the mass market. Whether his conclusions disturb or offend you, you will find honesty, conviction and journalistic integrity on every page, as well as skilled storytelling and graceful writing. I rate this book with MISSISSIPPI MUD, also by Humes, as two of the best examples of accurate and incisive crime journalism in recent years.

Unfortunately this story is true.

I know this story is true personally as I turned this office into a higher political power to report inefficiency in one of their departments, which I am withholding the department name out of fear of further retaliation from Mr. Jagels. I received a scathing letter from Mr. Jagel's office accusing me of things that were not true in response to my reporting him. In less than a year, I found myself being accused of a crime that I did not commit. I plead nolo contendre knowing full well that this DA did not like me and I would never receive a fair trial. I prayed for the Lord to seek vengeance for me as I am not a vengeful person. I never knew about this book until months after it was published, but then found out it was published less than a month after my plea of nolo contendre. I truly believe this book is an act of God and will prevail until Mr. Jagels repents of his wrongdoing. If he can't learn on his own, God will teach him. Mr Jagels actions against me drove me to thoughts of suicide, but my faith in God brought me through it. I still have a long way to go, but with God's help, I will heal from this horrible misjustice that was wrought upon me and my family. I pray that no one else suffers at the hands of this office. They say that truth is stranger than fiction and this book proves it. If you are into scary books, this is the one for you. I found it extremely interesting reading. The DA can say that this book is in error a million times over, but now who would expect them to admit the terror that they have caused in this town? He actually hired a poll to see how well-liked he is in this town. It was not very convincing.Heartbroken and healing in Bakersfield