Healing Justice Retreats Foster Empathy Between Crime Victims and Exonerees

Founded by a rape survivor, the nonprofit's retreats offer a transformative space for shared healing and understanding.

Jennifer Thompson, a rape survivor, leads Healing Justice, a nonprofit that hosts retreats for crime victims and wrongfully convicted exonerees to share experiences and heal.
The retreats involve group discussions, art therapy, and exercises aimed at addressing internalized harsh words and promoting self-compassion.
Participants, including both crime victims and exonerees, report feeling courageous, open, and nurtured after the retreats, highlighting the transformative power of shared understanding and empathy.
Studies show eyewitness misidentification, often due to flawed police lineup procedures, contributes significantly to wrongful convictions, impacting both the accused and the actual victims.
Healing Justice advises prosecutors' offices on empathetic victim handling in exoneration cases and has received a grant to expand its efforts.