Hello everyone and welcome back to the Top Ranked Criminal Justice Evolution Podcast. Top ranked because of you the listener and supporter – Thank you. Please subscribe to the show, share it with your family and friends and give us that 5-Star rating and review on Apple Podcasts we sure would appreciate it.
A big thank you to all the brave men and women working in the criminal justice system. Remember you are honored, cherished and you are loved. Keep up the good work.
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I think we can all agree that the Criminal Justice System in the United States is not perfect. Far from it. It was never designed to be perfect. Mistakes happen, but when an innocent person gets sent to prison based on a crappy criminal investigation and subsequent trial and then gets released years later, we all should demand accountability and answers.
My next guest is Jia Wertz.
Jia Wertz is an independent documentary filmmaker pursuing stories that explore wrongful convictions in the name of protecting the social order. She is currently investigating the vagaries and inconsistencies of the American Criminal Justice system through the story of Jeffrey Deskovic and other exonerees who have had their freedom restored at the cost of irreparable damage to their minds, relationships and families.
Her debut documentary short titled Conviction premiered at the Greenwich International Film Festival and saw success on the festival circuit. The short was selected at numerous festivals including New Filmmakers NY, Cannes International Independent Film Festival, Independent Cinema Showcase, New York Cinematography Awards, Best Shorts Fest, among others, prior to being featured on Amazon Prime. The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Documentary Film at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival.
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She is currently in the final stages of post-production on the feature-length documentary of the same story.
Jia is from Calgary, Alberta and currently lives in New York City with her husband and son. She is a graduate of New York Film Academy.
In addition, Jia is a featured writer for Forbes, has contributed to a number of fashion and business publications, and the Founder and fashion designer of Studio 15.
Links & Resources
- See more of Jia’s work on her website.
- Connect with Jia on LinkedIn
- Follow us on Facebook
- Check out more podcast interviews at CJEvolution
