Framing Innocence by Lynn Powell - a mini review
One of my early birthday presents was a copy of Lynn Powell's new book Framing Innocence: A Mother's Photographs, a Prosecutor's Zeal, and a Small Town's Response [2010, The New Press], which I picked up at the author's book release reading at First Church in Oberlin earlier this month.
Lynn Powell signs Framing Innocence in Oberlin - 9/13/2010 - photo by John Burroughs
I've since gotten to read it, and must say it's the best non-fiction book I've read this year. Of course I'm partial. The story involves the very same zealous prosecutor(s) who put me in prison in 1993, but happens seven years later. I won't say much more here — I'd rather you read the book and draw your own conclusions. It's the true story of a woman who was charged with child pornography and faced 16 years in prison for taking a couple of innocuous photos of her eight-year-old daughter in a bathtub. Read more about Lynn Powell's Framing Innocence at cleveland.com, and then please read the book.
Lynn Powell signs Framing Innocence in Oberlin - 9/13/2010 - photo by John Burroughs
I've since gotten to read it, and must say it's the best non-fiction book I've read this year. Of course I'm partial. The story involves the very same zealous prosecutor(s) who put me in prison in 1993, but happens seven years later. I won't say much more here — I'd rather you read the book and draw your own conclusions. It's the true story of a woman who was charged with child pornography and faced 16 years in prison for taking a couple of innocuous photos of her eight-year-old daughter in a bathtub. Read more about Lynn Powell's Framing Innocence at cleveland.com, and then please read the book.
Posted by Jesus Crisis at 9/26/2010 7:24 PM 
Categories: Writing and Poetry, Prison
Tags: Framing Innocence Lynn Powell Oberlin
Categories: Writing and Poetry, Prison
Tags: Framing Innocence Lynn Powell Oberlin
Very cool!
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I also have an autographed copy of Lynn's book that I got at the book release here in Oberlin. The whole town turned out for this affair. Read it and learn what happened here and admire the courage and perseverance of the author in researching the facts in this case that got the attention of everyone here and in the media.
We heard not only Lynn but the mother and the daughter who were involved in this case of warped justice. Nora Stewart is now 18 and is a sophomore at Yale U. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it!
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I goofed and said she was ten years old when she was actually eight. I've since gone in and fixed my error.
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To think a picture of an eight year old girl in a bathtub rinsing herself is porn.. the porn was obviously in the screwed up minds of both the man who first developed the negative and the dirty minded prosecutors and police who arrested Cynthia. Unbelievable. I remember when Velasquez was taken before the Holy Office after he painted his nude Venus and his defense said that the minds of the inquisitors had to be questioned if this was considered erotic or pornographic. And that goes for all naked women (or men) in all the paintings in all the museums in this world.
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Seems like your story could make a good followup to this story.
Thought about organizing a demonstration about the overly punitive sentences irrationalism about sentencing ppl. So many things to take stances on. I wish people were more humane.
We have the largest prison population, percentage-wise, than any other country; I think I've read this.
Difficult topics. Seems to me that a lot of ppl who are normally fairly rational about some things are not rational when it comes to sentencing sex crimes.
16 years. That's a crime against the mother and her daughter.
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Well said. The night I saw Lynn read, the mother (Cynthia) and daughter (Nora, now a student at Yale) also stood before the mic and shared. I came away reinspired or redetermined to finish my book. I recorded the whole evening and would like to share the video online -- but want to get permission before doing so.
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cool.. glad your reinspired. and hope you can post the video in a timely fashion.
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All of your friends agree and care about you, John. I think your story would show, not only courage in the face of the abuses of our justice system but would be just as interesting as Cynthia and Nora Stewart's story. It needs to be told.
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