The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case

This episode is the second in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to see a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals. Today's episode features Timothy Catlett. Growing up in and out of the foster care system, Mr. Catlett has gone against the odds his whole life. But he doesn't let the challenges he's faced affect his ability to lead a full life. Timothy volunteers at the Free Minds Book Club and regularly attends church. He plans to marry his fiancée, Monique, next summer. Timothy is a hard worker, clocking in fourteen-hour days to earn an income for his new family and to reach his goals.

This episode is the first in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Today's episode features Charles Turner. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. They are so much more than the terrible things that happened to them. They're husbands, fathers, friends, supervisors, and mentors, among many other things. This series will allow listeners to see a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals. Charles Turner spends countless hours volunteering for Free Minds Book Club, where he mentors young people reentering the community from prison. He leads a custodial team at one of the largest libraries in DC. In his spare time, Charles volunteers at homeless shelters.

Why would someone need a presidential pardon after being released from prison? This episode features the voices of all six accused men from the 8th and H cases, who explain how their felony convictions continue to affect their lives long after exiting prison doors.   As we await a potential pardon, we will publish updates in real-time on The Alley feed, so stay tuned. If you’re called to act, you can sign a letter of support at 8thandhjustice.org.   You can also help by discussing this case on social media using the hashtag #8thandHJustice.

In the summer of 2024, the men from the 8th and H Case submitted applications for a Presidential pardon. Lawyers Shawn Armbrust (Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project) and Eden Schiffmann (Williams & Connolly) share what went into this arduous process. Chris Turner discusses the immense impact a Presidential pardon would have on his life. ---- There are two critical actions you can take to support the pardon effort. First, you can go to 8thandHjustice.com  to add your name to the list of supporters. It takes no more than two minutes. There are two separate links: one for former or current DC residents and one for non-DC residents. You can find this on the "get involved" page. Second, share your thoughts about the case on any social media platform using the hashtag #8thandHJustice. In recent years, we've seen the power of social media in influencing Presidential pardon decisions. Your posts can increase public pressure, making it more likely that the 8th and H case will catch the president's attention.