The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice By Dan Slepian

In The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice, NBC Dateline producer Dan Slepian recounts his relentless two-decade journey to expose and rectify profound miscarriages of justice. The story begins in 2002, when Slepian, acting on a tip from a Bronx homicide detective, uncovers that two men are serving twenty-five years to life for a 1990 murder they did not commit.

Driven by this revelation, Slepian embarks on a comprehensive investigation, delving into a criminal justice system resistant to acknowledging its errors. His pursuit of truth takes him through years of prison visits, court hearings, and street-level reporting, ultimately leading to a series of impactful Dateline episodes. His efforts not only secure the release of the initial two wrongfully convicted men but also extend to freeing four additional innocent individuals.

Central to the narrative is Slepian’s deepening relationship with one of the wrongfully imprisoned men, Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez. From his cell in Sing Sing, JJ becomes a crucial ally in Slepian’s quest, and their bond endures until JJ’s release in 2021 after decades behind bars.

Echoing the themes of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, Slepian’s book offers a poignant, personal exploration of wrongful imprisonment and systemic flaws. The Sing Sing Files is a compelling account of perseverance and hope, spotlighting the urgent need for justice reform and accountability in a system that has long struggled to address its own failings. 📚❤️