Frontline Season 11 Episode 21 Innocence Lost: The Verdict Parts I and II

In the two-part episode entitled "Innocence Lost: The Verdict," the investigative journalism series Frontline delves into the complex and emotionally charged criminal case of the Norfolk Four. The four men, all U.S. Navy sailors, were wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in 1997, and served years in prison for a crime they did not commit.

Using interviews with the Norfolk Four themselves, their families, and legal experts, as well as court documents and archival footage, Frontline examines the circumstances that led to the false confessions and wrongful convictions of these men. The episode also explores the role of flawed forensic evidence, witness misidentification, and systematic failures within the criminal justice system.

Part I of "Innocence Lost: The Verdict" focuses on the investigation and trial that led to the Norfolk Four's convictions. Viewers will see how police and prosecutors used a controversial interrogation technique known as the "Reid technique" to extract false confessions from the four sailors, despite their lack of involvement in the crime. The episode uncovers how errors and inconsistencies in the physical evidence were overlooked, and how the prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of one eyewitness whose account was later discredited.

In Part II, the focus shifts to the post-conviction appeals process, as the Norfolk Four and their legal team work tirelessly to have their cases reopened and their convictions overturned. Viewers witness the emotional toll that the wrongful convictions have taken on the four men and their families, as well as the challenges they face in trying to clear their names. Frontline uncovers new evidence that highlights the depth of the failures within the criminal justice system, including the use of jailhouse informants and plea bargains to secure convictions.

Throughout both parts of "Innocence Lost: The Verdict," Frontline raises critical questions about the flaws and biases within the U.S. criminal justice system that can lead to wrongful convictions. The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need for criminal justice reform and the importance of holding law enforcement accountable for their actions.