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In collaboration with his wife, Bonnie, Oliver details his years-long battle against a deeply flawed judicial system. He recounts the physical and mental toll of confronting Missouri's courts that are riddled with complications and obstructions. His steadfast faith in God guides him through burdensome conflicts to gain release from incarceration. This book serves both as an account of the collateral damage from Oliver's twenty-two years of imprisonment and an urgent call for reform.
Nicknamed "Big O" by fellow inmates, Oliver is at once entangled in the penal system when found guilty of a crime he did not commit. In vivid detail, Oliver recalls the deplorable conditions and systemic problems of jail and the penitentiary where he is housed among five thousand other inmates. By chance, Oliver and Bonnie met through the GED program, where she learned of his case and began following the trial. Over the years, their shared bond in his struggle has nourished their relationship as they continue to work together to clear his name.
With a keen understanding of the countless hurdles surrounding his case, Oliver examines and condemns matters of crime and law while addressing critical issues of for-profit prisons and their complex histories with violence, abuse, and injustices. He explores the power of forgiveness, the love of family, and the painful realities of a "living death sentence." The narrative includes trial transcripts, pictorials, song lyrics, biblical passages, and motivational quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. With his words, Oliver gives voice to myriad inmates and families facing similar circumstances in this vicious cycle of captivity. It is a courageous and impassioned memoir that will anger and inspire readers while celebrating one man's utmost determination to finally walk free.