CONVICTION: A Timely and Relevant Film Outlining Why We Need Prison Reform

Conviction, a short film directed by Jia Wertz, comes at a relevant time in America where a spotlight has been shone on how unjust our justice system is. This micro-budget short film tells the story of Jeffrey Deskovic who was wrongly convicted of killing a schoolmate of his, Angela Correa.

How It All Went Down

In 1989, Jeffrey Deskovic’s life took a dramatic and traumatic turn for the worst. He was a quiet and awkward kid in class but was very much interested in police work. When the cops came to question him about the death of a 15-year-old classmate of his, who was found beaten, raped, and strangled to death, he thought he was being called upon to help with the investigation. Little did he know at the time, and soon would find out, that he was their main suspect and would eventually be convicted of the crime.

Conviction outlines how that all unfolded. Listening to Deskovic talk and tell his story is heart-wrenching. It’s scary and easy to see and understand how a person can be manipulated and coerced by seasoned and skilled people in positions of power.

One Life Ended And One Changed Forever

16-year-old Jeffrey Deskovic went on to spend the next 16 years of his life in a maximum-security prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost all his appeals and felt like he was doomed to die in his cell, alone. He talks about daily life in prison and how isolating it was for him, the inhumane treatment prisoners receive while in custody, and the overall impact that has on a person’s mind.

The real killer, Steven Cunningham was arrested and confessed to the crime in 2007, setting Jeffrey Deskovic free. With his newfound freedom, Deskovic went on to pursue a degree in law and now works to free those who are wrongly convicted.

Production Value

For a micro-budget film, the quality of this production matches that of crime drama shows like Snapped. Unlike Snapped, there is no voiceover narration of the story, and Conviction is instead told by Deskovic himself, in his own words, in interviews with him, and a little bit of b-roll footage from his town and a few personal images from his life.

There is very little music in this film, and considering the nature of this documentary, the lack of music works and makes the story stronger as it is. The little bit of score that is there was strategically placed and makes a greater emotional impact on the viewer. I almost feel that a full score with this film would distract from what he’s saying and take away from the heart of his story. 

Conclusion

There’s a stigma attached to having spent time behind bars, whether one is innocent or not. That stigma plays a big role in life after prison, as Deskovic discusses when telling his story. It has a negative impact on relationships with friends and family, with potential employers, and dating prospects. People are wary of dating and being alone with someone who has gone to prison. But even if they’re able to get beyond that part of his past, the trauma of being in prison gives him more baggage than most people are willing to take on, as he states out loud.

As a white kid in the 80s, Jeffrey Deskovic is lucky that he didn’t get killed during his arrest. If he’d been a darker skin tone and was arrested present day, this story would be much, much worse, and he may not even be alive to tell it today.

This short film reflects powerfully on the corruption which is currently being exposed in the American justice system. Innocent people go to jail for crimes they didn’t commit all the time. This story is one of many people who are sitting behind bars wondering when or if they’ll ever see the light of day again.

Conviction is an intriguing and compelling real-life crime story. I imagine a feature version would investigate more about basic human rights being neglected in our for-profit prison system, expanding on all the atrocities Deskovic mentions in his story.

Do you enjoy watching reality crime dramas? Let us know in the comments below!

Conviction is available to watch on Amazon Prime with a feature version in the works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kUqrmI3uSk