“Just Mercy,” Chapter 16
Part I. Notice and Note Fiction Signposts Annotations
Directions: Answer the question AND select a quote for each Signpost.
Chapter 16
Signpost Overview
When you are reading and you notice the
Quoted author quotes a Voice of Authority, a Personal
Words Perspective, or cited Another’s words;
keywords; phrases within Quotation marks
Ask yourself; Why did the author cite this
person?
When you are reading and you notice the
Quoted author quotes a Voice of Authority, a Personal
Words Perspective, or cited Another’s words;
keywords; phrases within Quotation marks
Ask yourself; Why did the author cite this
person?
When you are reading and you notice the
Quoted author quotes a Voice of Authority, a Personal
Words Perspective, or cited Another’s words;
keywords; phrases within Quotation marks
Ask yourself; Why did the author cite this
person?
Quote from Text Chp.
“There were more than two thousand 16 Page
condemned people who had been 244
sentenced as children to life
imprisonment without parole-now they
were potentially eligible for relief and
reduced sentences.”
Stevenson wanted to cite this statistic
because it shows the readers how
crucial the situation of children being
sentenced and tried as adults.
“No child of twelve, thirteen, or 16 Page
fourteen can depend on him or herself 244
in the adult criminal justice system.
Wrongful convictions and illegal trials
involving young children are too
common.”
This quote is used to show exactly why
wrongful convictions involving
children are so common.
“An older African American man once 16 Page
said to me, ‘You make them stop 246
saying that! We grew up with terroism
all the time. We had to worry about
bombings and lynchings, racial
violence of all kinds.’”
This quote was used by the author to
show the readers how the American
system lies to younger generations. It
took elders to spread knowledge that
there were other racial violences.
 When you are reading and you notice the
Quoted author quotes a Voice of Authority, a Personal
Words Perspective, or cited Another’s words;
keywords; phrases within Quotation marks
Ask yourself; Why did the author cite this
person?
“Convict leasing was introduced at the 16 Page
end of the nineteenth century to 246
criminalize former slaves and convict
them of nonsensical offenses so that
freed men, women, and children could
be “leased” to businesses and
effectively forced back into slave
labor.”

This was quoted by the author because

he wants to inform the readers that
convict leasing was created because of
racial matters. It started with African
American slaves, and even then,
mainly marginalized people go through
convict leasing.

Part II. Respond to the following with complete sentences.

1. Explain the title of this chapter; can you think of anyone who fits the description of a
stonecatcher? Explain.
2. In what way was Stevenson a stonecatcher? How did his desire to catch stones motivate
him in his work?
3. According to Stevenson, what are the four institutions (include a brief description of each
one) in American history that have shaped our approach to race and justice? Do you
agree?
4. Two separate and surprising reactions occur during Robert Caston’s hearing—
what are they and why are they meaningful?
5. Why are wrongful convictions and illegal trials involving young children very common?
Text Box:
1. Explain the title of this chapter; can you think of anyone who fits the description of a
stonecatcher? Explain.
The title of chapter 16, “The Stonecatchers’ Song of Sorrow” can mean many things. For
example, a stone catcher tries to block and deflect painful words or actions and make an
example to show people how to behave. People like Pope Francis who is more accepting in the
Catholic faith is a perfect example, because he wants to not throw stones at people like saying
homosexuality is a horrible sin. Instead, he welcomes people in if they love God and his
teachings.

2. In what way was Stevenson a stonecatcher? How did his desire to catch stones motivate
him in his work?
Stevenson is a stone catcher because he defends those who need help being defended in the
court system. He especially defends marginalized people who were accused of crimes that they
did not commit. For example, Walter McMillian was wrongfully accused of murdering a white
teenage girl. Stevenson defends him, although Walter was still sentenced to death. Stevenson is
also a stone catcher because he even defends those who are guilty of their crimes, though they
do not deserve that much of a harsh sentence. Stevenson mentions what motivated him to
defend people in the court system. He saw how people on death row and the struggle made
manifest. The experience motivated him to advocate for the rights of people of color through
litigation.

3. According to Stevenson, what are the four institutions (include a brief description of
each one) in American history that have shaped our approach to race and justice? Do
you agree?
The four institutions were slavery, racial terror and the threat of violence against people of
color, Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation, and mass incarceration.

4. Two separate and surprising reactions occur during Robert Caston’s hearing—what are
they and why are they meaningful?
During Caston’s hearing, even the judges were overwhelmed. When Caston was released, the
crowd, judges, and Caston himself were all cheering and were overjoyed. The black woman
sitting in the courtroom felt sadness. She has been sad ever since her 15 year old grandson was
murdered. Although his murderers were sentenced to death, it still made her feel even worse.

5. Why are wrongful convictions and illegal trials involving young children very
common?
Children are vulnerable to all sorts of problems that increase the risk of a wrongful conviction.
No child of 12, 13, or 14 can defend him-or herself in the adult criminal system.