Barbara Bradley Hagerty

So he was sent to the largest maximum security prison in Texas. It's called the Cofield Unit. And he doesn't really like to talk about this time, but standing back for a second, This was a really interesting time for crime and punishment. Things were changing so quickly. And I'll quote Charles Dickens here. It was basically the best of times and the worst of times.

So he was sent to the largest maximum security prison in Texas. It's called the Cofield Unit. And he doesn't really like to talk about this time, but standing back for a second, This was a really interesting time for crime and punishment. Things were changing so quickly. And I'll quote Charles Dickens here. It was basically the best of times and the worst of times.

So soon after Ben was sentenced, the 1980s turned into the 1990s, right? And the 1990s were really a pivotal decade. On the one hand, it's a decade of getting really tough on crime. You'll remember... The first three strikes, your outlaw was passed in 1993.

So soon after Ben was sentenced, the 1980s turned into the 1990s, right? And the 1990s were really a pivotal decade. On the one hand, it's a decade of getting really tough on crime. You'll remember... The first three strikes, your outlaw was passed in 1993.

So soon after Ben was sentenced, the 1980s turned into the 1990s, right? And the 1990s were really a pivotal decade. On the one hand, it's a decade of getting really tough on crime. You'll remember... The first three strikes, your outlaw was passed in 1993.

Bill Clinton pushed through two really tough crime bills in 1994 and 1996. There was the crack epidemic, and people like Hillary Clinton talked about super predators, which was this racist notion that gangs of young black men were roving around the cities killing without remorse. The kinds of kids that are called super predators, no conscience, no empathy.

Bill Clinton pushed through two really tough crime bills in 1994 and 1996. There was the crack epidemic, and people like Hillary Clinton talked about super predators, which was this racist notion that gangs of young black men were roving around the cities killing without remorse. The kinds of kids that are called super predators, no conscience, no empathy.

Bill Clinton pushed through two really tough crime bills in 1994 and 1996. There was the crack epidemic, and people like Hillary Clinton talked about super predators, which was this racist notion that gangs of young black men were roving around the cities killing without remorse. The kinds of kids that are called super predators, no conscience, no empathy.

That theory, by the way, has since been debunked. And on top of it all, the Supreme Court started making it really, really hard to appeal convictions. But on the other hand, it was the best of times, right? There was an incredible technological development that happened. The DNA revolution. DNA started proving beyond a doubt that people had been wrongly convicted.

That theory, by the way, has since been debunked. And on top of it all, the Supreme Court started making it really, really hard to appeal convictions. But on the other hand, it was the best of times, right? There was an incredible technological development that happened. The DNA revolution. DNA started proving beyond a doubt that people had been wrongly convicted.

That theory, by the way, has since been debunked. And on top of it all, the Supreme Court started making it really, really hard to appeal convictions. But on the other hand, it was the best of times, right? There was an incredible technological development that happened. The DNA revolution. DNA started proving beyond a doubt that people had been wrongly convicted.

And this is this is also the time that there was this new legal organization that was founded was called the Innocence Project. Right. And they use DNA to exonerate person after person after person.

And this is this is also the time that there was this new legal organization that was founded was called the Innocence Project. Right. And they use DNA to exonerate person after person after person.

And this is this is also the time that there was this new legal organization that was founded was called the Innocence Project. Right. And they use DNA to exonerate person after person after person.

A man who spent three decades in prison for rape is cleared of the crime.

A man who spent three decades in prison for rape is cleared of the crime.

A man who spent three decades in prison for rape is cleared of the crime.

And suddenly, you know, average Americans started to see how deeply flawed the criminal justice system really was.

And suddenly, you know, average Americans started to see how deeply flawed the criminal justice system really was.

And suddenly, you know, average Americans started to see how deeply flawed the criminal justice system really was.