The document details the struggles of Lorenzo 'Cat' Johnson, who was wrongfully convicted and fought for 16.5 years to prove his innocence. After a court ruling vacated his life sentence, he was eventually released, only to face a reinstatement of his conviction by the U.S. Supreme Court. The document also highlights the life and impact of John Goldkamp in the field of social justice and pretrial assessment.

1. Graterfriends ― A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society ― October 2012
A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society
Promoting a humane, just and constructive correctional system and a rational approach to criminal justice since 1787
Volume 43 Issue 10 www.prisonsociety.org  www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety October 2012
Innocent but Wearing Guilty Clothing (Part Two)
by Lorenzo “Cat” Johnson, DF-1036, SCI Mahanoy
For 16½ years, I fought with every breath in my body to mitted. Jefrrey opened his own Justice Foundation and
prove my innocence. On October 5, 2011, the Third Cir- helped me with a lot of reentry issues. We became best
cuit Court of Appeals VACATED my LIFE SENTENCE friends. Between working, speaking engagements, and
on the grounds of insufficient evidence —which is equal enjoying life, it seemed there weren’t enough hours in the
to a “not guilty” verdict — barring a retrial. The prosecu- day. I met a lot of other exonerees and famous attorneys I
tion quickly filed for a re-argument, which was denied. had read about while in prison. Only now, I was there
Under the appeal issue on which my conviction was over- and had my own story to tell. I made a lot of contacts
turned, I was eligible for immediate release. The prosecu- through traveling in these circles, met a lot of good people
tion only had one appeal left, and that would be to the who shared my misfortune of being wrongfully convicted.
U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court only re-
views two percent of the cases that come across their May 29, 2012 is a day I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I
desks. So, chances of the prosecution being heard were was at work when I got a call from my lead attorney. I
almost impossible. couldn’t understand him because he was literally crying.
What I did hear, however, was that The U.S. Supreme
On January 16, 2012, I had a bail hearing in a federal Court GRANTED the prosecution’s petition and rein-
court in Harrisburg. At this hearing, I had people testify stated my conviction — without allowing briefs or oral
to my character. The hearing went great! On January 18, arguments — all at one time, per curiam. It hit me like a
2012, I was finally released from the Pennsylvania DOC ton of bricks. Once my attorney got himself together, he
for a crime I never had anything to do with. Finally, I got went on to say that he never saw anything like this hap-
a chance to rid myself of these clothes that didn’t belong pen before; it was unheard of. As our conversation con-
to me. My legal team met me outside the prison. We tinued, he let me know that they were going to want me
drove directly to Philadelphia, where the rest of my legal to turn myself in eventually, so I should enjoy my free-
team awaited my arrival. When we arrived, we all met in dom while they tried to keep me free until rearguments.
a huge conference room with at least 30 people in it. My
brother and friend came from New York. We all celebrat-
ed for a couple hours, then I finally headed home to New (See Innocent, continued on page 13)
York with my brother and friend.
In this Issue
As soon as we hit New York, I started clothes shopping.
After that, I saw the family. In February, my friends From the Editors, News ................................................. 2
threw me a welcome home party. I was surprised by how Spotlight, Mrs. GE-6309 Time ....................................... 3
much love and support I had after all this time. I got my
Think About It, Birthdays, Crossword Solutions ......... 4
license and a car, which I needed for the job I started. It
was like I never left. I started participating in speaking Legislative Highlights .................................................... 5
engagements about wrongful convictions; my first two Our Voices ...................................................................... 6
were at Widener University. My lead attorney and his Mailroom ........................................................................ 7
wife taught law there. It was a great experience. I also Pass the Word .............................................................. 10
started speaking to youth at local community centers Announcements ............................................................ 12
every other week.
Literary Corner, Notes in Passing .............................. 13
Finally, I was putting my life back together. I met Reader Survey, Graterfriends Order Form ................. 14
someone that I used to correspond with, Jeffrey Deskovic. Crossword ..................................................................... 15
Jeffrey had also done 16 years for a crime he never com- “The Last Word” by William DiMascio........................ 16
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The opinions expressed are of the authors and not necessarily those of Graterfriends or The Pennsylvania Prison Society.

2. Graterfriends ― A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society ― October 2012
Literary Notes in
Corner Passing
UNTITLED REMEMBERING JOHN GOLDKAMP
by Jose Mengel, JD-5821, SCI Frackville
John Goldkamp, Ph.D., passed away on August 26th
Being a father and a parent is very hard, after a courageous battle with a prolonged illness. He
was a giant in the field of social justice. His Bail Guide-
I truly tried my best but it was never good enough.
lines experiment in the early 1980’s set the stage for the
Sometimes in life we make mistakes and bad decisions development and implementation of validated pretrial
That not only hurts oneself and hinders the ability to be risk assessments used today. Goldcamp also wrote three
who he really is, books, 50 articles and nearly 100 research reports. His
But also hurts the one closest to him books on pretrial justice, including Two Classes of Ac-
cused and Personal Liberty and Community Safety, are
That needs his unconditional love and guidance. staples in the pretrial community. John was the first
Even though I made mistakes that has removed me from researcher to recognize the implications of drug courts,
your life temporarily does not mean that I don’t still love and the first to investigate and publish the initial results
you. of the Miami Drug Court program. His work covered an
I still worry and care about your well-being and not a array of criminal justice topics including problem-solving
day goes by where I don’t miss you and think about the courts, parole and targeted enforcement strategies.
times we shared together bonding the way a daughter
and father should bond. Goldcamp served for several years as the Chair of the
I wish that I could change the hands of time to change Department of Criminal Justice at Temple University.
the fact that I took for granted the opportunities I had to He served on the American Bar Association Pretrial Re-
show and provide you the love that you can only receive lease Standards Committee and was a member of the
from your father. Pretrial Justice Institute Board of Trustees. John was
the recipient of NAPSA’s Pioneer Award as well as the
I know you miss the love only your father can provide. Paul H. Chapman Award from the Foundation for the
I also miss the love that I can only receive from my Improvement of Justice and the August Vollmer Award
daughter. from the American Society of Criminologists. He was
I know that you are hurt and mad because of your fa- elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Experimental
ther’s acts of selfishness and neglect, so to speak, but Criminology and was a nominee for the 2005 Stockholm
please don’t hate me. Prize in Criminology.
And give me one more chance
To be your father, I LOVE YOU!
Innocent, continued from page 1
I left work and went to the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice offices. Once I got there, I began calling family and
friends to inform them of what had taken place. While doing that, my New York attorneys were on the phones with my
Pennsylvania attorneys, trying to come to grips with what had taken place. I was completely numb, as if I were dream-
ing. My worst nightmare was coming back to haunt me, when I thought it was all over. My lady and my cousin came and
picked me up. For the next couple weeks, I worked hard and tried to make sure that when I did go back, it would be for a
short stay.
I spent my remaining time with family and friends. This was a very emotional time in my life. I had to make some im-
portant decisions. I traveled with my New York legal team to Philadelphia to meet my legal team there. This was also
very emotional; we are very close and this was the first time they’d seen me in months. Before, we had always called
each other. I can’t discuss what we spoke about due to my pending appeal. I can say that I feel very confident in my
chances with this group of people. My time came on June 14, 2012. I turned myself in to SCI Camp Hill at 2:00 p.m. to
once again fight to clear myself.
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The opinions expressed are of the authors and not necessarily those of Graterfriends or The Pennsylvania Prison Society.