On June 17, 1988, 19 year-old Joanna Katz's life changed forever. That night, as she and another woman left a gathering of friends, they were abducted at gunpoint, brutally raped, beaten, and systematically tortured by five men. Badly wounded, Joanna escaped after five grueling hours, saving her life and the life of her friend. All five men were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. It appeared that justice had been served. However, the harsh reality is that for victims of violent crime, in addition to physical injuries they have suffered, there are jagged psychological and emotional wounds that may never heal. Some of these wounds are unavoidable- the result of a severe life-changing trauma. But many of these scars are imposed and aggravated by the very laws and system that are designed to protect the victim and our society.
Under South Carolina law, felons convicted prior to 1996 can be considered for parole every year (violent offenders every two years) after serving only a minimum period. Unfortunately, the person most interested in seeing that they complete their full sentences is the victim, who must gather her courage and relive her terror as she prepares for each parole hearing. The emotional toll is terrible and exhausting. The victim and her family must testify time after time as to why the convicted criminal should remain in prison. And in a particularly cruel twist, criminals who participate in a group assault receive separate parole hearings forcing Joanna to attend five different proceedings held at various times every two years. In the beginning, all of the hearings were scheduled on different days, however, the state has managed to combine some of the hearings. This cycle will continue until the criminals either make parole or complete their sentences and are released back into the community. In reality then, the victim can never truly move on.

Sharing The Story

The issue of how our system treats the victim is why Joanna Katz's story is more than just another unsettling tale of violence against women. There are implications that we as a society must consider. There are lessons that police officers, victims‚ advocates, families, doctors and health care workers, attorneys, and parole boards must learn. To have some greater good come out of her horrendous experience, Joanna Katz is sharing her story. For more than 7 years, she has allowed Liz Oakley to document her repeated and frequent appearances before the parole board. Liz has extensively interviewed Joanna, her family, many of those who played a role in her recovery and those who helped convict her assailants. These interviews have been woven into a film that explores a system that forces the victim to continue to bear the burden of justice. 

Creating A Story With A Different Ending

Sadly, we can't always prevent horrible crimes from happening, but we can improve our response to them. Joanna Katz's story gives us a compelling reason to revisit the ways that we react to and work with victims of violent crimes. By learning from her story we can ensure a future where victims are given the opportunity to once again live a normal life. A life free from the bonds of a justice system that forever links them to their attackers and the most horrifying event of their lives.