The Other Victims of a Wrongful Conviction
This piece explores the complex emotional aftermath of wrongful convictions, focusing on the perspective of the victim's family. It details the author's evolving relationship with the son of a murder victim after the exoneration of the man originally convicted of the crime.
Why it matters
It highlights the often-overlooked human cost of the justice system, specifically how exonerations can reopen trauma for the families of victims.
For years, I reported on one man’s wrongful incarceration—and ignored the stories of a grieving family who thought they had gotten justice.
Jay Young looking at a photograph of his father, Jeffrey Young, at his home in Frisco, Texas ( Desiree Rios for The Atlantic ) July 23, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save “I bet you’re extremely happy ,” Jay Young texted me. “So you and the slimy media going to fawn over his side and forget about my dad’s family and friends now?”
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