06/11/2026
What would Jeffrey Deskovic tell his 16-year-old self?
In a recent StoryCorps interview recorded at the Innocence Project, Jeffrey reflected on the interrogation tactics used against him as a teenager, the false confession that contributed to his wrongful conviction, and the lesson he wants young people and families to understand: innocence alone does not protect you in an interrogation room.
Jeffrey was invited to bring someone to join him in conversation, and he chose filmmaker Jia Rizvi, creator of Sixteen Years, as a way to thank her for the work she has done documenting, promoting, and helping share his story.
During the interview, Jia also reflects on the emotional weight of Jeffrey’s case, including the devastating reality that another young person questioned by police had a father figure who intervened, while Jeffrey did not. That difference helped shape two very different lives.
We are grateful to the Innocence Project and StoryCorps for including Jeffrey and The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice in this important project, and to Jia Rizvi for her continued work bringing Jeffrey’s story to wider audiences.
Listen to the full interview through the Innocence Project / StoryCorps.
