J4J Background                             

On the night of Tuesday May 15, 2001, author Steve Rose entered the Oshkosh Correctional Institution as a visitor, never knowing the story with which he would depart or the cause upon which he would embark for the next 8 years.  That evening as he spoke to a group of inmates with a message of help, hope and encouragement, he noticed a gentle-spirited man sporting a warm smile listening intently in the front row. 

After the presentation the inmate approached Rose and told him something that has burned in the speaker’s heart ever since.  The 34-year-old man (at that time) serving at OCI was Alphonso James.  Rose vividly recalls the engagement and the first time he met him, as if it were yesterday. 

“As he approached me I could tell there was something special about him.  I sensed confidence and sincerity through his eyes and smile.”  As they shook hands he admitted, “Mr. Rose, it feels like you came here just for me.  I could relate to your story of overcoming adversity.  My name is Alphonso James.  I have been in prison 15 years (as of that time) for a murder I did not commit.” 

Rose was initially skeptical.  He knew that many serving time in prison claim to be innocent, but his feelings changed instantly when James gave him one key fact about his case.

“The Innocence Project in Madison, headed nationally by Barry Scheck and in Wisconsin by Professor Keith Findley, has taken my case and I believe they will help prove my innocence,” James said boldly. 

“That fact changed my attitude about his case instantly,” recalls Rose.  “I knew that the Innocence Project did not take cases unless they genuinely believe in their client’s case.  They get thousands of requests and they take very few.”  Then Alphonso came right out and made a request of Rose.

“With all your contacts can you help me?” 

“Alphonso, let me discuss this with my wife Kathi.  In the meantime is there a way that you can get me on your visitor’s list?” asked Steve.

“I’ll get visiting papers out to you in tomorrow’s mail,” replied a grateful James.

Clearance for Steve to visit James came just weeks later, and in the meantime the Rose’s received weekly collect phone calls so James could further share his story with them. 

Since July 18, 2001 to the spring of 2009, Steve has personally visited AJ almost 140 times traveling over 15,000 miles to four different state of Wisconsin institutions spending over 375+ hours with him.  During that time Rose’s feelings that James has suffered terrible injustice has never changed. 

He has become one of his greatest advocates, not only believing in his innocence, but helping to find and bring a plan of action.  On July 26, there was a Community Brainstorming Conference in Milwaukee to finally make his case public and more deeply seek Justice for James. 

Over the years Rose has sought and gotten the attention and help from many prominent people (Friends of Alphonso James)  who are helping build hope for the 41-year-old James.