Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1546131
82 maconmagazine.com | August/September 2026 Does it dredge up painful memories every time you tell your story publicly? Some days I can tell my story with strength and courage. Other days, one question takes me right back to being a sixteen-year-old kid sitting alone on death row. Trauma doesn't disappear just because time passes. What do you hope people learn from your story? I want people to understand that justice is about people, not statistics. I want future lawyers, judges, and policymakers to remember that every case file represents a human life. I also want people to understand trauma. Prison doesn't just punish people — it changes how we think, trust, and make decisions long after we are released. I also want people to leave believing in redemption, healing, and the power of second chances. What do you say to people who think the criminal legal system generally functions well, but just makes some occasional mistakes? Mistakes happen in every profession. My case wasn't just bad luck. Every wrongful conviction usually has human decisions behind it — whether that's mistaken eyewitness testimony, withheld evidence, inadequate defense resources, or misconduct. If we believe these are simply unavoidable accidents, then we stop asking how to prevent them. How are you taking care of yourself and coping with the continuing trauma of what you've lived through? Healing isn't a destination for me. It's a daily practice. Being a father has probably saved me more than anything. My kids give me a reason to keep growing and keep living. Trauma is like a cancer. It eats at my thoughts daily. Traveling the country in our RV has become part of my healing. Instead of letting prison define my world, I'm introducing my sons — and myself — to places, people, and history I never imagined I'd experience. I also lean on faith, trusted friends, and meaningful work. ABOVE Luisiana State Penitentiary where Shereef was incarcerated. Photo courtesy of PrisonInsight.com TOP A USA death row exercise yard. Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock.