Case Study: The Illusion of Innocence — When Integrity Fails
Introduction A seventy-five-year-old Florida grandmother, Donna Adelson, has recently been convicted of the murder of her ex-son-in-law. This prominent law professor was involved in a custody battle with his ex-wife, Donna’s daughter, and was sentenced to life in prison. Despite overwhelming evidence, she continues to claim her innocence. Her claim is hardly unique. Across the United States, a significant number of incarcerated individuals assert their innocence — a phenomenon that raises important ethical and psychological questions about accountability, truthfulness, and moral responsibility. The Broader Context As of 2025, approximately 1.9 million people are incarcerated in the United States1: about 155,000 in federal prisons,...
03 November, 2025